50 Days to More

A Seven Week Campaign to Begin 2018

Week 3: Determining to Whom You Have Been Assigned

Day Eighteen (1/24/18): Rebelling Against Your Assignment
Recommended Reading: Jonah 1:1-10

 It’s pretty much human nature to rebel against God. We see it throughout the Bible. Today we’ll learn that as much as we may rebel, God will not be ignored.

Jonah is the perfect Bible character to teach us this (you can read about it in our recommended reading). God called him to go to Nineveh: the place of his assignment. He wanted Jonah to preach to the Ninevites: the people of his assignment. And basically, Jonah went in the complete opposite direction, to Tarshnish (Really, it’s the exact opposite of Nineveh. Take a look at the map in your Bible!).

This was Jonah’s attempt to escape God’s call. God allowed Jonah to experience tremendous pain because of his disobedience. His disobedience even caused pain to those around him. When Jonah was on the ship to Tarshnish, there were great storms that threatened to destroy the ship. When the people found out that Jonah was to blame, they threw him overboard!

When there is a “Jonah” in the body of Christ (a person who is the problem), many have mercy on him. They will figuratively tow him behind instead of throwing him overboard. This is driven by the excessive gift of mercy. However, we can see in this story that these people aren’t our responsibility. Jonah was swallowed by a fish when he was thrown overboard. And there will be a fish for that “problem person” in the body of Christ too!

Jonah endured three days and nights in the belly of a fish until he cried out to God. God allowed the fish to spit Jonah up, and Jonah immediately went to Nineveh at The Lord’s command. Nineveh had a city-wide awakening with Jonah’s help!

Very few people have grasped this truth: one person’s disobedience can create corporate judgement. When one person is experiencing the pain of disobedience, everyone around them might have to the price for their rebellion. Paying the price for disobedience can cause a lot of pain.

Pain can be a tremendous motivator. We have all experienced great pain (most of it being self-inflicted). But there are rewards for our pain.

Pain forces us to look to the word of God for answers.

Pain forces us to lean on the shoulder of God instead of man.

Pain forces us to learn where we went wrong.

Pain forces us to long for God’s presence and healing.

Pain forces us to listen for God’s instructions for restoration.

Are you experiencing pain caused by rebelling against God? It’s not an easy thing to admit, but the good news is that God is so incredibly rich in mercy. Jonah rebelled against God’s assignment and caused a lot of issues for the people around him. But he also heard Jonah’s cry for forgiveness (see Jonah chapter 2). He still allowed Jonah to fulfill his God-given assignment! God can also turn your situation around if you ask him to. It is not too late to get back on track with your assignment. It is not too late to experience more!

“I love The Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.” Psalm 116:1 (ESV)

 Compiled by Christine Thompson
Taken from the Sermon Series “7 Steps to One Thousand Times More”
By Pastor Timothy Coats
Family First Church - Spring Hill, Florida