Tabor Baptist Church

Bible Reading [until 2:50]

Introduction

• Coming to the end of the book but likely to have a couple more sermons
• It tells us  about God, His character, His sovereignty, His purposes
• It tells us something about His servant Jonah
• He is greatly displeased and angry with God for showing great mercy to Nineveh
• He feels they need judgement and cannot accept that God would forgive them
• He has been through a great journey and experienced the lovingkindness of God
• Although he had known real repentance there were still things that needed to be dealt with in his life
• Overview
• Why believers get angry?
• How is anger sometimes evidenced?
• What is God's response?

Why believers get angry?

When God's will conflicts with your will

• Jonah wanted God to punish Nineveh
• What would it mean for Israel?
• Jonah could not contemplate that God would forgive such a people
• Jonah's will was not aligned with God's will
• What about us?
• God often gives us the desires of our heart
• Are our desires to honour and bless Him?
• Are we more concerned for ourselves?
• Are we expecting a certain outcome in prayer or for God to answer in a certain way?
• Christians do get angry
• The bible says "be angry but do not sin"
• We are to be angry about injustice and sin
• When there is anger in our heart that is not right, we are to bring it to Him (and if with another person to settle it before the end of the day)
• Jonah did not deal with his anger [in chapter 4]
• We are left on a cliffhanger - was his anger ever dealt with, it probably was
• Example of hymn writer
• When going through a trial or hard situation remember this is when we really grow, when we learn to depend on God

When we allow bitterness and prejudice to take hold of us

• Jonah could not rejoice because of the terrible harm Nineveh had done to Israel
• Can we rejoice when someone or a church has harmed us?
• Not all who profess faith are genuine
• God always honour faith
• Example of Christian minister - he had to search his heart
• God is in the business of saving sinners
• 'There but for the grace of God go I'
• God has saved me and I should rejoice if God saves anyone
• God rejoices over one sinner who is saved

When God shows favour to people we don't deserve it

• Promotion, salvation, unworthy of a position
• We need to ask for God's mercy and to help us rejoice
• We look at Jonah and say we will never be like that
• Are there situations where we are not right

How is anger sometimes evidenced?

• Some possible signs of anger:
• Isolation (example of Jonah)
• Questioning the character of God
• Not misunderstanding or trying to understand
• Jonah was questioning the goodness of God (4:2)
• Self-pity
• Jonah wanted to die (4:3)
• Maybe Jonah is worried about his reputation or what he will say to his countrymen when he returns
• We must 'die to self'
• Listen to how we speak - assess our own words
• Yours words reflect your heart
• If our heart is wrong pray to God to help change it

What is God's response?

• How did God come to Jonah?
• He did not condemn Jonah but came to the heart of the matter
• He asked a probing question - "Is it right for you to be angry?" (4:4)
• Sometimes we need that probing

Lessons to Learn

• God still used Jonah even though his heart was right before God
• This should encourage us
• Think of Balam and Peter
• We must never rely on past experience
• Jonah knew an awesome experience (cf chapter 2)
• 'Not what we were in the past, but what are we today?'
• Question your motives
• Jonah was obedient but his motives weren't right
• A right theology but applied incorrectly
• The Nature of God
• God does punish sin and all who do not repent
• God is Holy
• God forgives where there is true repentance
• God is slow to anger, He is patient and kind
• Imagine if God treated us as we deserve - where would be?
• The message of the Cross
• Trust in the Son of God
• Run to Christ and find forgiveness