Southland Global Missions of WV

Are You A Jonah?

Watchman---ud-12/1/2012/---Billy Blankenship

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Are you a Jonah? Are you sure? Being a Jonah can be a blessing, or a curse! Take a good look and see if you can figure out which category you fit in! Is the Lord calling you today for Salvation-or perhaps a Ministry? How will you answer the call? Sometimes the Lord calls once, sometimes twice, see where you stand right now in light of His call!

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Jonah 1:1.Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai,

2.Arise, and go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

Let us notice here in verse 1-2. that where there is great sin, God will send someone to cry against it! God calls, but it is up to the individual to respond to the calling. God calls, but man must make the choice whither to obey, or, to disobey.

Verse 3.But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

You can always find a method to (go the wrong way) if you want! Jonah's method was a (fast ship to Tarshish!) Nineveh, and Tarshish, were not on the same route! Notice also, that when walking in disobedience, you will always be going (away from the Lord's presence.) Sometimes the fare we pay, is very small in comparison to what we will eventually pay while walking in disobedience to God's word.

4.But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

5.Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the side of the ship; and he lay fast asleep.

Always remember, that when you are going (down), you are going (from) the presence of the Lord. If we as Christians, or Ministers, would only realize the danger, problems, and heartache we can cause (others), by our willful disobedience to God. Sometimes, God will send, or cause a (storm) in our lives, (sometimes not). Depending on our stubbornness and rebellion, or, being receptive to His chastening!

Sometimes it serves a purpose "if we listen", and, at times it does not. Sometimes, we are (fast asleep) like Jonah, not realizing the trouble, danger, and heartache we are causing others by our disobedience and unconcern. While the world goes to Hell all around us, much of the Church world today is "still able to sleep in the bottom of the boat"!

Isn't it strange at times, how much of the Church world continues to sleep, while the mariners (sinners,) are afraid for their very lives? Where is the help they cry? Where is the warning? Surely some god will save us! What is causing all of this calamity? The boat is about to sink, and someone is responsible, who is it? Dear friend, the boat is sinking fast here in America! It would have already gone under, but for the love and mercy of Almighty God!

WHAT WAS JONAH THINKING ABOUT?

What was Jonah thinking of, as he lay the in bottom of the ship fast asleep? What is the Church thinking about, while she too lies fast sleep? Is this the "falling away first" spoken of in 2^nd Thessalonians 2:3? Could it have been his hatred of the Ninevehite's? Sometimes in our hatred, or dislike for other groups, nationalities, or races, we forget all the commands of Jesus, when He said: "Go ye into ALL the world and preach the gospel".

We can easily see from Jonah's actions, that he could care less what happened to Nineveh! I am oft reminded of the true circumstances that followed me, in one of my duties as an assistant Pastor with a large Pentecostal Church in Chicago. This Church had the greatest potential for reaching souls, than any of the Churches where I had been either the Pastor, or, assistant Pastor. The possibilities were endless for reaching the lost.

I'll skip most of the story, but mention only the prejudice, (like Jonah) this Pastor had. In his office one day, he said: "Bill, the Mexicans will soon be moving into our area", and, they will be followed by the "blacks"! I cannot minister to these groups! I want to sell the Church, and move to the Suburbs where there are all whites. God had handed this Pastor "all of Chicago", but he wanted to go to the suburbs! Sound like Jonah? God said "go here", and this Pastor said, no, "I'll go there".

I left the Church and returned to West Virginia. He sold the Church to the "Muslims", but from that point on, he (like Jonah) went down, down, down. He did build a new Church in the suburbs just like he had planned. But there was friction in the Church, and he was soon voted out of his own Church as Pastor! As of the time of this message, he has no Church, no congregation, and no ministry! It's most wise to go in the direction God sends you. If it's to go to Nineveh, "then go to Nineveh"!

This Pastor paid his fare (on the boat), but eventually lost the boat and all that was in it! Dear Christian, or Minister, just what could you lose if you go your own way, other than the way God is trying to lead you? Could it be a home-Church-spouse-family-job- or even your health? Are you willing to go to the (bottom of the boat), just because of disobedience to God?

ARE YOU ASLEEP IN THE BOAT?

If you are aslep in the boat today, you had better "wake up", trouble could be all around you, and you won't notice it because you are fast asleep. Perhaps God hasn't called you to go to Nineveh, maybe instead He has just called you to follow him! Is it true, that where you once served God with joy, life is now a "drag"? Maybe you have left Him for some boy friend/girl friend, or, maybe riches has caused you to turn your back on God! Maybe as a minister, you have noticed how easly it seems to go the way of some of the TV's "false prophets"! Thirty pieces of silver may look good now, but what about later? Are you alert?

If any of the above are true, and you have backslidden in your Christian walk, friend, you are headed for "the bottom of the boat"! Heartache and destruction will soon follow, for even the mariners, (sinners) can see that you are asleep and unconcerned. Like Jonah, they can see your wretched condition better than yourself! Do you hear them say: "I thought he was a Christian, what happened to him"? Just like Jonah, God will be stirring up a storm in your life also, and you may, or may not make it if you do not respond quickly!

No one knows better than I, the great danger, of not only getting on the "wrong ship", going the wrong way and then, "going to the bottom of the ship" and going to sleep! If once you have had the wonderful forgiveness of sins, and then decide that (for what ever the reason) you want "to go the other way", instead of the way God was leading you, rest assured, that heartache, misery, unhappiness, and even sometimes loss of loved ones, will come your way, if it takes that to get your attention!

Notice verse 5.Jonah was not concerned about the welfare of anyone on board, but himself. Jonah .was fast asleep. while the ship was breaking apart!

6...So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

Sometimes, we like Jonah wish to do our "own thing", not thinking or caring, about all of the problems and heartaches we may cause for all those around us. Our way may look good for the moment, but the end results can be disastrous! Does God have to send someone just like the "shipmaster" to ask you what is the matter with you? Why are you sleeping? If you don't care about yourself, at least think of everyone else that is on board the ship!

Remember, all of your actions and decisions, (whatever they may be) will effect someone else, either for the good, or for bad! Another thing, Jonah's fare may have been "small", but the consequences were "great"!

So many times we only think of our selves, not realizing that the consequences of our decisions can cause much harm to others. The mariners said in essence: "If you don't care anything about your self, think about us". Pray and ask your God.if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. Even as they cast lot's (gambled), the lot fell upon Jonah! God was allowing Jonah's disobedience, to show forth and be seen by all aboard the ship.

Then they asked Jonah, .Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? And whence comest thou? What is thy country? And what people art thou? {emphasis mine}

I don't recall reading any scripture in the Bible, where "six' questions were asked anyone in succession! They needed answers in a hurry! (The boat was being torn apart!) In our every day language they asked: what caused this evil (trouble) to come upon US; What is your occupation, (what do you do for a living?) Where did you come from? What kind of people are (YOU? What kind of man are you Jonah? What did you do, to cause your God to be so angry at all of us? God even allowed the (sinners), mariners, to spot the problem. Then in verse 9 Jonah begins to explain what had caused the terrible situation they were now in.

9...And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.

10...THEN WERE THE MEN EXCEEDINGLY AFRAID, AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHY HAST THOU DONE THIS? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. {emphasis mine}

How embarrassing that must have been to Jonah, to have these hardened seamen, (who had their own gods to serve and worship), who knew nothing of the God of the heavens, to find God's own Servant, (the one Jonah said he feared) asleep in the bottom of a boat. Running from the presence of God, willfully disobeying God's command to go to Nineveh, and by doing so, bringing all of the potential death and destruction on everyone else!

Yes dear friend, it may look like your "fare" is cheap to begin with, but if you are disobedient and running from God, you can count it true that "great trouble and sorrow" are ahead for you as sure as the sun comes up in the morning! It may not happen as quick as Jonah's problem, but rest fully assured, it will come, and in many ways. Can I ask you a question in love today? Are you running from God? Are you living in disobedience to His word, and His purpose for your life?

Don't let God have to stir up a storm in your life, to get you to obey! God is loving and caring, but He also disciplines His children. (Sometimes rather severely), depending on the need, and the response to God chastisement. I recall many years ago, about the last of 1954, when I made one of the most dreadful decisions of my life! I had been a Christian for about seven months, and due to the living situation I was in at the time, my Brothers in-law, ask if I would go down to the tavern with them? I made my first trip back to the Tavern in many months.

I still recall the evening, that I decided to again place the "shot glass" to my lips. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart so clearly: "Don't do that-Don't do that"! I DID! To tell of the next 16 years of pretty much Hell on earth, would take a large book. My "fare" was cheap that night, perhaps 50 cents for the shot of whiskey. But the "consequences" were devastating! The result of disobeying God, caused my family "unimaginable heartache"!

I was in the bottom of the ship, and the ship had a hole in it! My "shipmaster" was the the Devil. He was steering my boat, and headed straight for the rocks! My family could have asked me the question just like the "shipmaster", why did you do this? Why did you bring all of this hardship, and heartache, on us? Hear me well, "don't run from God"! He knows just where you are sleeping, and can even find you at the bottom of the boat! Oh; dear friend, If you have once been a Christian, a Child of God, YOU are not the only one who suffers through your disobedience! Many others suffer also, (especially your family) and all because of your running from the presence of God, and headed for the bottom of the boat! IF YOU LIVE LONG ENOUGH DEAR FRIEND, "HE WILL FIND YOU"!!

WHAT TO DO NEXT?

In verse 11, a question was asked, after finding the source of the problem! Jonah, God's Servant! God's Servant a problem? There must be some answer to our situation they thought!

11...Then said they unto him, (God's Servant), What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? For the sea wrought, and very tempestuous.

12...And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: FOR I KNOW THAT FOR MY SAKE THIS GREAT TEMPEST IS UPON YOU. {Emphasis mine}

The next two verses are rather comical in a way, as they tried as hard as they could to save the boat. Then the mariners (sinners) began to cry out to the Lord, (they had changed their gods, the one's they had prayed too before didn't work.) They begged the Lord, to not let them perish, because of Jonah! V15. tells us, that when they threw Jonah into the sea, the storm stopped.

Then they were really so scared! They then offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows. You can learn sometimes in a hurry, what is right and wrong. In the next verse, we see that God had already taken care of the situation.

17.Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

How long had the Lord had this fish prepared for Jonah? Did God already know, that Jonah was not going to obey Him when he first told him to go to Nineveh? Of course He did. Just how far can you run from God dear friend? What "ship in this life" are you in right now, and which way are you headed? Are you living in disobedience to the word of God? Are you not only going the wrong way, but also asleep? The storm's coming friend-the storm's coming! You can count on it!

Chapter 2. verse 1. Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly, 2.And said, I cried by the reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

What does it take in our lives sometimes, before we cry out to God like Jonah, by the reason of our affliction O Lord? Oh, blessed reader, where ever you are now in your spiritual life, remember these comforting words of Jonah!

7...When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came unto thee, into thine holy temple.

How well I remembered nearly 42 years ago, when because of (my sin-my disobedience-my rebellion toward God-in MY AFFLICTION, I too cried out and remembered the Lord! And as my prayer came to Him, He heard me!

Praise God forever more! I too was "vomited" out of the Hell hole of Satan's clutches, and once again God said: Go to (Nineveh--Chicago, that great city) and cry against their sins, and preach what I bid thee preach!

Notice in verse 14, The mariners were really crying out to God! Where they had been afraid before after seeing what God had brought upon the boat, they were now really scared! They were afraid of what God might do, if they threw His servant overboard! You will notice that they all seemed to have a "genuine conversion", for they were calling out to the Lord of Heaven for the first time!

I had been in Satan's grasp for sixteen years, on the wrong boat, and going down for the third time, to the bottom of the ship in discouragement-loneliness-heartache, and despair. But I cried unto the Lord, He then gave me Peace-for my discouragement-joy for my loneliness-happiness for my heartache, and Hope for my despair! He'll do the same for you right now, if you will only ask Him!

I am not going to expound on the book of Jonah, for my purpose was to try and show you God's great mercy and compassion toward those where the truth is preached. Verse 3-4 tells us, Jonah headed for Nineveh, and although Nineveh was a three days journey, Jonah cut his time by about two thirds, It only took him one day to arrive at his destination. I wonder why the rush to obey God this time? In verse 4-5, Jonah message to the Ninevites was, God was going to destroy the City in 40 days.

The King proclaimed a fast, from the people to even the animals. Nothing to eat or drink for any of them. 3:9...Who can tell if God will turn and repent , and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

{Editor} Oh; THAT OUR UNGODLY LEADERSHIP, WOULD STOP MAKING THEIR HELLISH AND UNGODLY LAWS, WHICH ARE HELPING TO DESTROY THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF AMERICA! AND, IF THE CHURCH, WHICH IS ALSO SLEEPING IN THE BOTTOM OF TTHE BOAT SO TO SPEAK, IN (APOSTACY) WOULD TURN TODAY, "LIKE RIGHT NOW", IN FASTING AND PRAYER FOR OUR NATION, WHO CAN TELL, "PERHAPS GOD WOULD TURN AWAY FROM HIS FIERCE ANGER, THAT AMERICA PERISH NOT"! AND IF NOT! ONLY GOD KNOWS THE OUTCOME FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD AT ALL!

10...And God saw their works, that they turned away from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Dear reader, which Jonah are you today? Are you "headed for the ship, and FROM the presence of the Lord", or, are you walking in obedience to God's word, and sharing the message that God has given you to share? As a child of God, and especially a Minister, you have a great and powerful message to deliver to the people in this end time! Deliver it just as God has given it to you! God's word to Jonah was: V 2..preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. That is the only message that counts, "the one that God gives you to share"!

Sixscore thousand people were saved, due to Jonah's preaching! My, that is a preachers dream to have so many conversions. If we are obedient to God's leading, (the Holy Spirit), there is no limit to what God can do in our lives! We can touch many souls for Christ, if we will head for (Nineveh) the first time He speaks to us. We might not get the second chance like Jonah! We may wind up like the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus said: SLEEP ON!

I trust that you have been following the Lord faithfully, if so, then ask Him where your next assignment might be? It might be to Nineveh, or, it might just be in your own neighborhood! Where ever it is, if God is leading, go there without delay. Don't be a disobedient Jonah! If there is someone you know who has grown cold, and headed "for the ship", and, is going the wrong way, tell them of this message. Be a soul winner! Help them to get back up and into the boat, and head in the right direction.

If we can help you in anyway spiritually, please use the email address below.

We always covet your prayers-(sincerely!)

May God's blessings rest upon you, as you seek to follow Him.

Brother Billy Blankenship

Email address: globaloutreach2@msn.com

Web Site: www.sigm.net