Producing Fruits

from Jonah 3:3-5

There is only one way that each Christian can produce a fruit. This way is to do God's will. As implicated in these verses, doing God's will can produce the fruit that God desires from His children. Outside God's will, we cannot expect Him to do mightily in our midst. We believe that God chose Christians for certain purposes, not just a reason. God chose Jonah to be His messenger of deliverance for the Ninevites. When Jonah obeyed His will, God's purpose was fulfilled. In these verses, we see that the Ninevites believed and were saved.

This leads to the second point of these verses. Obeying God's calling immediately will not delay the revelation of His mercy, grace, and love. There has been no delay in revealing God's power to save, His immeasurable love, unfathomable mercy, and glorious grace if Jonah has obeyed Him immediately. But because of his disobedience, such revelation has been delayed; but thanks be to God. His calling and gift are irrevocable. And thus, the Ninevites still received such great salvation at the time Jonah has obeyed God's calling.

In application, when God has called us to do something, we should obey it immediately. Otherwise, we will be delaying the revelation of His love and the salvation of other people.


Useful Links

The Lord's Work by Dwight L. Moody

Knowing and Doing God's Will by John MacArthur

After the Deliverance

from Jonah 3:1-2

This is a story about Jonah who has been called by God to proclaim His message of destruction and salvation to the people in Nineveh. Unfortunately, he ran away from God, and took a ship to Tarshish. Along the way, God commanded a storm to hinder him; As a result, he was thrown into the sea where he experienced death. But God in His great power saved him by way of sending a big fish to swallow him. He was in the belly of the fish three nights and three days. And later, he regained his life, and gave thanks to God for his life. In Jonah 3:1-2, God has reminded Jonah once again of His calling.

There are two important lessons that can be learned in these two verses. These are the following:

1. God's calling as well as His gift is irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Remember that Jonah was called to preach God's message to Nineveh. Though he has disobeyed God, and later experienced God's discipline, it didn't change the fact that God called him to Nineveh. It didn't change what God has appointed him to do. And in these very verses, God has reminded him once again of that unfinished business.

What is the relevance of this truth to us? It means that God is unchanging or immutable. If this is so, then His decision to destroy every sin in this corrupted world will never change through time. This is recorded in the book of Revelation. It will remain regardless of what invention, technology, innovations, etc. that this present generation (or the generations to come before Jesus' second coming) will discover or develop. Thus, if you are sinning against Him, His decision to put you into the lake of fire will never change (Revelation 20).

On the other hand, if you have been called by God to become His own child, you will remain to be His child forever. And when His perfect time comes, you will enjoy His presence forever (Revelation 21). In effect, you will never lose your salvation because God will not change His decision of choosing you. This is the reason why Jesus Christ rose from the dead through the power of God in order to become a High Priest who intercedes the believers forever (Hebrews 7:23-25). And this is a good news for every believer. Why? Because though they may fall into sin after they received God's glorious grace of salvation, they will continue to inherit it because Jesus is continually interceding for them.

But this should not be an excuse for them to go on sinning. Because everyone who has seen and accepted God's salvation will not continue to live in sin (1 John 3:6).

2. After God's deliverance there comes God's purposes and great responsibility. Again, in Jonah 3:1-2, we see that Jonah was already being delivered from death. He experienced life through God's intervention. Though one has enjoyed God's salvation, s/he has to fulfill God's purposes of choosing him/her, and do his/her responsibility as God's child. In Ephesians 1:11-12, Paul expressed that believers were predestined that they may become praise to God's glory. In Matthew 28:19-20, every believer has been called to make disciples and teach everything that Jesus taught to His apostles; that they may be handed down from one generation of believers to another. And there are other purposes that God has given to everyone who has believed Him.

Galatians 5 has also shown the believers' responsibility. But they can be summed up in what Jesus said as the greatest commandment, as follows: Love God above all, and love your neighbors as your self." It means that everything that a believer must do or must not do will be founded on love. Love must precedes every good work that s/he does. Without it, everything will just be senseless and in vain. That love must be directed to God. When s/he has love for God, s/he will learn to love others. And all good works that s/he will do will not be burdensome. Good works are fruits of the faith that a person has for God (James 2:14-25). They are not for the attainment of his/her salvation but a manifestation of it. Every believer does good works according to God's words.


Useful Links

A Believer's Assurance: A Practical Guide to Victory over Doubt by John MacArthur

The Absolute Necessity of Accountability by Pastor Carmelo Caparros II

When Calamity Strikes

from Jonah 2:1


Background

God called Jonah to go to the Nineveh to preach God's word encouraging the Ninevites to repent from their sins, otherwise, He will destroy them. Unfortunately, Jonah ran away from this calling. He boarded on a ship going to the opposite direction. While sailing on the sea, God caused a great storm. The ship was almost destroyed while the crews panicked. They casted lots and it fell on Jonah. They inquired about his sin, and he told them to be thrown into the sea. Jonah sunk into the depth; but God gave him a big fish that swallowed him. He was in the fish for three days and three nights. After regaining his life while inside the fish belly, he prayed and gave thanks to God.


Lessons Learned

In the first verse of Jonah chapter 2, we see that Jonah prayed. This is a humble act before God. remember that Jonah ran away from God's call. Now, he is coming before God in prayer. In the succeeding verses, we will see what Jonah uttered to the Lord. But the focus of this exhortation is on the first verse, Jonah's act of coming to God in prayer.

Why did he do that when at first he ran away from God's presence? He did it for simple reason. He was in the midst of a calamity. It seems that he has no choice but to come before the God of all creations, the Almighty who has a full control over everything. he knew that it was God who caused the storm because of what he did; he was also aware that it was God who calmed the sea after he was thrown into the sea. He was also aware that it was God who provided him with a big fish that took him out of the deep. Witnessing all these amazing events, he accepted now the fact that he cannot run away from the God who called him. No choice? Maybe. Or he might have accepted the fact that there is a God who can help him with his predicament. Or, he has repented from what he did, and now coming to God in humility.

Two lessons that we can learn from here: one, let us not await a calamity to strike us before we come to God in repentance. Why do we have to experience such "great storm" before we confess our sins to Him, and seek His forgiveness. We know that God is slow to anger, loving, and relenting to send calamity when we rend our hearts to Him (Joel 2:13). We should not wait God's anger to strike us because we know that we are nothing before Him.

Two, in our distress, we have a God who can help us mightily. There is a God who is Almighty (Exodus 6:3)! So, where shall you go in your troubles? A wise person will not trust his/her life to anyone who is also governed by the forces of nature. A wise person will put his/her trust on a God who can deliver him/her from all troubles (Psalm 34:17).

If you are wise, remember these two lessons. But then again, do not wait when calamity strikes you before you come to God.


Useful Links

The Attributes of God by A. W. Pink

When Tragedy Strikes by Jeff Miller