JONAH

Debra Isenbletter, Pastor

Springfield, Missouri

Ch. 1:10 - “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.”

“Then were the men exceedingly afraid”—Jonah has given his answer to their questions and now we see the strong emotional response to what Jonah has said.  They were “exceedingly afraid”, they were “intensely” afraid; they were “terribly” afraid. They were “terrified”. The reason given for their fear is not just because of what Jonah said about his God, He was “the God of heaven” and the God that “made the sea”. The reason for their terror is because of what Jonah did. He ran from God.  They seemed to be more afraid of Jonah’s God than Jonah was. These ungodly, pagan men have a degree of fear and a degree of faith. Both give them a revelation concerning Jonah’s God. They were afraid of God’s power; afraid of judgment, afraid of dying, even a little afraid of Jonah.  Where was Jonah’s fear? We do not a hint of it in this narrative. Jonah did not seem to be afraid and he should have been. Their fear is the foundation for the Lord’s salvation and His mercy. “Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him” (Psa. 85:9) and “great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” (Psa. 103:11).  

 “Why hast thou done this?”—These men ask Jonah a question. Their question is an accusation that demands an explanation. It can be translated: “What is this you have done?” or “How could you do this?”. They are shocked. They are astonished. You get the idea that they would never do this if they knew this. What has Jonah done? Jonah has run!  Their accusation is very personal because their lives are at risk. Everything God did was to Get Jonah’s attention and it affected them. They were caught in the middle, they stood between God and Jonah, innocent bystanders. Jonah’s disobedience put their lives in danger. Jonah cannot answer this question and he does not seem to answer it because he cannot justify himself and he would have to face himself, would have to take responsibility for his actions. The lesson is that everything we do or do not do has consequences. We are not the only ones affected, others are affected.  

Abram’s fear of the famine led him to Egypt (Gen. 12:10). Abram’s fear of the Egyptians led him to tell a half-truth concerning his wife (Gen 12:13). Where was Abram’s faith? All we see is his fear.  Because of a lack of faith and because of his fear, he caused Pharaoh and his household to suffer. Pharaoh took Abram’s wife into his household and God was angry. “And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues…” (Gen. 12:17-18). Pharaoh questioned Abram, accused him, “Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife” (Gen. 12:180. He suffered because of Abram’s actions, because of his fear, here his fear was a lack of faith in God.

Samson’s anger over his wife being given to another led him to take action that brought the anger of the Philistines upon all of Judah. (Judges 15:1-11). He acted apart from God’s will. He married a Philistine, his companion, his friend was a Philistine. (Judges 14:20). What was he doing in fellowship with those that were the enemies of his people? When he compromised it brought consequences? Her father thought he had just cause to give her to another but Samson took action that brought down the wrath of the Philistines and they asked him, “What is this that thou hast done unto us?” (Judg. 15:11). His actions affected them.  

Jonah’s actions affected those around him.  Our actions affect those around us. We are not the only ones affected if we are disobedient to God’s Will or God’s Word. Like Jonah, there are others caught up in the judgment that was directed against Jonah. 

“For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord.” At the end of this verse we find out that at some point, Jonah had told them that he had “fled” and that he had flesh “from the presence of the Lord.”  That must have told them that Jonah was a prophet of God, who else would stand in the “presence of the Lord?” This fleeing is the real issue. It is what Jonah can no longer deny, it is what he can no longer hide, it is what he must face and see the consequences of. Somehow these men knew that the “presence of the Lord” showed that Jonah had a relationship with God, he had fellowship with God, he had a responsibility to God. The Amplified Bible translates this as “he fled from the presence [face] of the Lord [as his prophet and servant].” This is what was so shocking to these men. After hearing Jonah describe Who his God was and His Power they were stunned.  They, in their knowledge of their gods and their limited knowledge of Jonah’s God understood the importance of responsibility to the god you served. This must have been humbling for Jonah. They knew because “he had told them.”  Jonah’s conscience had forced him to tell the truth, he did not lie. The telling of this truth is the beginning of Jonah’s recovery and restoration as God’s prophet. Their next question in vs. 11, is a question for the prophet and not the man.

 To Everything a Season
(from Ecc. 3:1-8)

By Vicky Moots

To everything there is a season,

A time, a purpose and a reason.

A time to be born and a time to die,

A time to laugh and a time to cry,

A time to till and plant the ground, 

Another time to mow it down,

A time to heal, a time to kill,

A time to speak, a time to be still,

A time to tear down, a time to build,

A time to cast the stones away,

A time to gather another day,

A time to embrace and be held tight,

A time when embracing isn’t right,

A time to rend, a time to sew,

A time to keep, a time to let go,

A time to get, a time to lose,

A time to let go and let God choose,

A time of peace, a time of war,

A time when hate will be no more.

 THE LORD’S PRAYER

A Pattern Prayer

Part 1

By Vicky Moots

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” Matt. 6:9-13 is commonly known as “The Lord’s Prayer” and is given by our Lord solely as a pattern of the manner in which we should pray. It was never intended to be simply memorized and repeated in place of a personal prayer.  Jesus strictly told us in v. 7, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do”. “Vain” means “empty, having no value.”  A prayer that is memorized and repeated frequently is worthless to the soul and has no spiritual meaning, serving no purpose to the individual or to God. Prayer must come from the heart and is intended to be direct communication between us and the Lord, even as Jesus communicated with his Father. We are given a heartfelt example of that in John 17 which is Jesus’ personal intercessory prayer for all believers prior to his going to the cross.

Most people who have memorized and repeat the prayer given in Matthew 6 have no real understanding of its meaning and application to us as Christians. In this study, I am going to break it down phrase by phrase in detail in the same manner as if we were chewing our food prior to swallowing, so that we may be spiritually nourished thereby.

V. 9: “Our Father:” shows our personal relationship with God as sons, as members of his family.  Only his children have the right to call him “Father.”  So how do we have the right to do that? The answer is found in John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him [Jesus], to them gave he power [ability] to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh [not an earthly, fleshly birth], nor of the will of man, but of God.”  It requires a spiritual birth to enter the family of God.  Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:7, “…Ye must be born again.” You were born once in the natural, but you need a new birth, to be born of the spirit.  Just as the birth of Jesus was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit, so is our new birth when we accept Christ as Savior by believing on his name.  When we are born again, then God is our Father.

In the Old Testament God was not known as Father in the sense of a family relationship. The term Father that was used, as in Isa. 64:8, refers to God as creator. “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”  Under the Law the relationship was that of a master to servant.  Blessings were based strictly on obedience, and therefore disobedience resulted in the curse of the Law.  But after we are born again then God is no longer just the creator of the universe who is way out there somewhere, but he becomes our loving Father who cares for us and about us as individuals.

I John 3:1: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God…”.  After we are born again he considers us his sons just as much as he does Jesus. The term “adoption” is used in Gal. 4:4 which means “son placing,” referring to our relationship and privileges as mature sons rather than merely children. The full understanding of this term would require a separate Bible study. But basically, it means that not only did we choose him and accept him, but God chose us and accepted us. Just like his Son, Jesus, we have the same rights and privileges to call him “Father.”  He places us alongside his Son.

In addition, we are informed in Gal. 4:6-7 “And because ye are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” “Abba” is a term of endearment like “Daddy” and shows a loving personal relationship.  Only children, not servants, could use that term. What is your relationship with the Lord today? Are you a son or a servant? A son who loves the Father will gladly serve him out of love, not out of fear.  Only grace not law, gives us the privilege of calling God our Father; we cannot earn that relationship by our good works. It is by grace that we are saved and become sons of God by accepting God’s Son, Jesus, as the sacrifice for our sins. May the Holy Spirit help us to fully comprehend and accept our relationship with God and our position in his family as sons and not servants.

To be Continued

 Psalm 23

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

In both the Old and New Testaments, God uses shepherding to illustrate His loving care of His sheep (His people). When we say, “The Lord is my shepherd,” we acknowledge that we are His sheep, but saying it is not enough; our lives must reflect it. 

The problem is very few have any idea about the actual role of a shepherd. What it means for the Lord Himself to be willing to be our caring shepherd. 

May we acknowledge we belong to Him and everything we have and everything we have ever worked for belongs to God? We are His stewards, managing things for Him. The world tempts us to say, “it is all mine,” but God owns us and we must acknowledge that. 

Psalm 100:3, “Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves, we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” God bought us with a price, He has redeemed us. Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

In Acts 20:28, Paul gave a charge to the elders saying, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” 

Scripture teaches that true wholeness is achieved by surrendering to  God’s control of everything in our lives. Everything we have is His; He is in charge. However, Psychologists and psychiatrists tell us to assert ourselves and be subject to no one, that self-reliance is the road to wholeness.

If we cannot submit to God’s authority, we will never have true peace and contentment. Everything would depend upon our circumstances, which are continually changing. By acknowledging that the Lord is our shepherd and by accepting His authority in our lives. We can find true freedom and fulfillment. 

With genuine gratitude and exaltation, we can proclaim as David did, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” I lack nothing and have everything that I need because the Lord provides it all.

 The Encouraging Word

“Set your affection (mind) on

the things above, not on the

things that are on earth.”

Colossians 3:2

“Blessed is the man that trusteth

in the Lord and whose hope

the Lord is.”

Jeremiah 17:7

“You drew near when I called

on you; You said, “Do

not fear.”

Lamentations 3:57

“O GOD the LORD, the strength

of my Salvation, you have 

covered my head in the day

of battle.”

Psalm 140:7

“Rejoice always; pray

without ceasing; in everything

give thanks; for this is God’s

will for you in Christ Jesus.”

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Martha Wainright

ESCAPEES

Part 3

Jack Davis

“But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life” – Acts 5:19-20.

These prisoners had been told not to speak any more in the name of Jesus. The high priest and all that were with him had been stirred to indignation by the multitudes of believers being added unto the Lord, and a multitude of the sick being healed. They hoped to put a stop to these marvelous works by threatening, and then by putting them into prison.

Praise God the angel of the Lord brought them forth. They were given the good occupation of all the Lord’s escapees to go, stand and speak the wonderful words of life. Thank God, we have been set free, and we also have the God-given liberty to boldly do the will of God in our lives, even in the face of threatening bondage.

These escapees hadn’t taken the easy way out, but endangered their lives by obeying the higher command. V. 29, “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” Having left the prison, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But when the high priest came, they sent to the prison to have them brought, and they found them not. They found the guards doing their job well, except for the fact they were guarding an empty cell. Let our adversaries’ men always be kept busy guarding an empty prison.

In a later prison break, we read of Peter being taken prisoner by king Herod. “Peter therefore was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the church of God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals.  And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me” – Acts 12:5-8.

The things that happened to Peter here may remind us of our experiences in various types of prisons. He seems to manifest great peace, an overcoming attitude in a very uncomfortable situation. I believe he got more rest than the two men chained to him. Oh, how we thank God for the light that was commanded to shine into our prison, to alert us of our liberty in Christ, and the truth that makes men free. He sometimes has to smite or shake us to make the chains fall off. It is also amazing the way He prepares us to move out in His will. In order to fully follow Him in His perfect will, we need our loins girt about with truth, our feet shod with the preparation of the  Gospel of peace, and be experimentally wrapped in the robe of His righteousness. We then may also declare, as Peter “declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison” – Acts 12:17.

Now as Paul and his companions went to prayer, a soothsaying slave girl agitated them many days. When Paul commanded the evil spirit to come out of her, it stirred up the wrath of those making profit from her acts. Then they caught Paul and Silas, and brought them to the magistrates, and stirred up the multitude against them. “And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Who having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God; and the prisoners heard them” - Acts 16:23-25.

This event is such a wonderful testimony of victory even if the record ended right there. At midnight, in stocks, and with many stripes is not usually considered the most ideal time for praying and singing praises, but oh, thank God this is when the prisoners heard them. I am glad that God also still produces the same attitude and actions today in those who in their darkest trying hour completely trust Him. Sometimes we also are prisoners for Christ sake, that other prisoners may hear the joyful sound in the darkest places. Yet we certainly rejoice that the earth did quake, and the foundations of the prison shake, and opened the doors and loosed the bands.  We greatly rejoice in the liberating of the prison keeper and his household. Thank God that we today who are constrained by love divine, are still able to encourage “prisoners of hope” to always “turn to the strong hold” of our faith. Zec. 9:12.

While Jeremiah was shut up in the court of the prison, the Word of the Lord was sent to encourage him to “call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” – Jer. 33:3. The prison for Jeremiah was, even though dark, damp and gloomy a sweet place of communication and revelation. A place to listen and to speak to the Lord. Yet I doubt if he complained when he got out.

SECRET ESCAPES
It seems that the escapes we experience as we go on farther with the Lord, become more and more intricate. They aren’t always easily expressed or explained. They are not things that the flesh would boast in. II Cor. 11:30,32-33, If I must needs glory, I will glory in the things which concern mine infirmities. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me. And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.”

At this time Paul provably escaped the edge of the sword, but how many of us would proudly tell how? We might be prone to tell it like this concerning the window. ‘The Lord just opened the windows of heaven and swept my through.’ In place of a basket, we would rather say a chariot of fire whisked me out of his grasp in the neck of time. When we would tell of the wall, who would tell that it just fell down flat and I walked over it, or better yet I walked right through it. Was not this a glorious deliverance for the man chosen to be the chief apostle of the church? Paul had to say I escaped by being let down. He was let down by the brethren. Has the Lord ever provided you such an escape? The names of those gracious saints who held the robe are not mentioned, but I am sure God has it on record. God had placed Paul’s life in their hands.

After this escape, Paul was “caught up,” II Cor. 12:2,4. He then was caused to behold glorious things that he could not talk about. Because of what he saw, he was turned down, in his request for removal of a thorn. He was turned down to escape being lifted up. Our Father always provides a way of escape for us, from captivity to carnal pride. He resist the proud and gives grace to the humble. He has provided for our freedom from the influence of the world, the devil and the flesh, wherein dwelleth no good thing.

There is coming so very soon that great escape, let us be ever and always expectant of it. “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God: and the dead shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” – I Thess. 4:16-17.

GOD’S WORK IN US

Anita Clark – Pastor – Carbondale, KS

The example used in the Old Testament of the “Potter and the clay” is especially illustrative of God’s marvelous work in the hearts and lives of His people, whether Israel or the believers of the Church today.  Isaiah. 64:8 says, “But now O LORD, Thou art the Potter, and we are the work of Thy hand.” God, Creator made man from the dust of the ground.  Genesis 2:7 says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”  The word “formed” is a word that means “to mold into form especially as a potter.” 

In Jeremiah 18:1-6, the prophet was told to go down to the potter’s house, and God was going to cause him to hear His words.  We too can hear the words of the Lord through the illustration of the Potter and the Clay.  Notice verse 3, “Then, I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold He wrought a work on the wheel.”  Just as God molded Adam out of the dust of the earth, God works in all His children.  In this particular Scripture, God is speaking of His work on Israel at that time.  Notice verse 4, “And the vessel that He made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so He made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”  This verse though written of Israel is applicable to believers today.  God is working a divine work in each of our lives.

In Romans 9:20, Apostle Paul says, “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonor.” We are the vessels that God has formed.  Some may have a more honorable place in the Church than others, but God is in control, and calls some to one ministry and others to something else.  We have to learn that God is the Potter, and He is bringing about through His skilled hand as the Master Potter His own divine will. He has the power over the clay. We should not question the work of God in our lives.

Isaiah 45:9 speaks of the “potsherds” striving with the Maker (God). This is speaking of Israel who was as broken pot (just broken pieces - potsherds) at the time of this prophecy, but we can also apply this verse to ourselves.  We should not “strive with our Maker,” questioning His work in our lives, saying, “God are you sure you know what you are doing?” We are often a helpless, broken pot.  A song says, “He is the Potter, We are the clay, Mold me and make me, this is what I say. Change my heart, O God...Make me just like You.”

The Potter, our Maker, is working in us to change us into His own image.  When a Potter begins to work with the clay, the first thing he does is to work the air bubbles out.  This is called “wedging.” This takes some time in the Potter’s hands, and the clay is still a glob, but pliable in the Master’s hands.  Next comes the molding or shaping of the clay, which either is done on a wheel or just by coiling the clay to make whatever it is that the Master wants to make.  The clay is kept moist by the Potter using water as he works.  The Master’s hands are always holding the clay and working with the clay.  When the desired shape is produced, the Master fires the clay.  Without firing, the clay pot will never be usable.  The firing is at very high temperature in a kiln, the oven that will bring forth a usable pot.  After the firing then comes the staining or painting.  This is where the beauty comes to the pot. Then, the pot must be fired again to perfect the staining. Of course there are many different kinds of pots, some beautiful, just to display on a shelf, but others which are more practical and useful. Think about this and realize why God used this illustration of “The Potter and the clay.”

How does God work in our lives, as the Potter of the clay?  Apostle Paul exhorts in I Thessalonians 2:12-13- “That ye would walk worthy of God, Who hath called you into His kingdom and glory.  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”  As we take in the Word of God, it does a work in us, as the Potter does His work with the clay, an “effectual work,” which in the Gk. Means, an “active, fervent and mighty” work.  Ephesians 4:16 speaks of this “effectual work.” which brings “...increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” The Potter knows exactly what He is doing.

In Ephesians 3:20, Paul speaks of “...the power that worketh in us.”  This is the Holy Spirit power that the Potter uses to transform us into Christ’s image.  Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God which worketh in you, both to will (to determine) and to do of His good pleasure.”  God uses many things to shape us and mold us into the image of Christ.  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal: but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (II Cor. 4:16-18).

Ephesians 1:11 tells us, “...according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.”  There is no one who is all knowing and all powerful as God.  Verse 19 speaks of the “exceeding greatness of His mighty power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.”

Philippians 3:21 says, “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able to subdue all things unto Himself.” Note the word, “working” which in the Gk. Means “efficiency (energy) operation or the effectual working.”  How can a believer expect to be changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ?  The Potter is on the job.  Praise God!  He is the power that works in us to giving us the ability and strength required to be an overcomer, changed into the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Praise the Lord!