Questions from Jonah

I am thankful for a request to post the response questions posed at the end of Sept. 23's sermon from Jonah, "And Should I Not Pity Nineveh?"  Here they are:

1. If you have heard the call of God's compassionate grace and received rescue from sin and death through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, you have a calling like Jonah.  What an amazing privilege to be called to speak for Christ!  Are you obeying Him or running away?  If He calls you to a very hard, even threatening place, will you go?

2. Are unbelieving observers and listeners to your life drawn to acknowledge God and perhaps move toward worshiping Him (as the pagan sailors were)?

3. Are you continually astounded at the loving-kindness, patience and compassion of God toward you through Jesus Christ?

4. Is yours a theology of God's greatness and glory or of self-centered "sovereignty"?

5. Are you open to the proclamation of God's Word, especially when it brings conviction of your sin?

6. Will you long for and pray that God would move mightily through preachers and witnesses of the Word?  Through your own witness?

7. Do you believe that God can and will move astonishingly among people-- even entire cities and people groups?  Or do you say, "That was then, this is now?"  And will you believe that God will bring about the gospel's spread through turmoil and tragedy in today's world?

8. Down deep do you rule out certain people as undesirable and undeserving of the gospel of Christ because they are who they are, like Jonah did?  Islamists; drug gangsters; abortionists; colleagues and relatives who are "burrs under the saddle" of your life; others?

9. Do you quickly assent to the truth that people from every tongue and people group will be won to Christ, but you would much rather not be used to bring it about because of what it would cost you?  Or would it even be fine with you if you were dead before it happens?

10.  Do you place limits on God's sovereignty and resent Him when He calls you to hard things or takes away your "shady place" in life?  (Added after Sunday-- Are you angry with God when you know well what following Jesus requires of you, especially in very hard circumstances, and you want to rebel (even in a premeditated, planned way as Jonah did)?  For example, you know that following Christ calls for you to stay in your difficult marriage and you are angry and thinking of getting out?  Or, following Christ calls you to hold lightly to your children and the thought of having your son or daughter live in a dangerous place for the gospel's sake upsets you to the point of distress and anger?)

11. How does your compassion measure with God's?

Tip: Please bring this list with you to the All-Church Prayer Meeting on Sunday evening, Sept. 30, 6pm.

Prayerfully continuing to process these questions for myself, and praying for you who read and answer the questions,

Pastor Carey

Shall We Fear?

A few minutes ago I read that China is rattling sabers against Japan.  "Friendly allies" kill American soldiers in Afghanistan.  Murderous violence is intensifying against the U.S. and other western nations in Muslim countries.  The economies of our nation and world seem bent on implosion as unfathomable debt continues to mount.  Shall we be afraid?

Here is how the Bible answers that question: No, do not fear, but humbly trust God.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. "  Psalm 23:4

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"  Psalm 27:1

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body,and after that have nothing more that they can do.  But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell."  Luke 12:4-5

"And [Jesus] said to his disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life,what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.  For life is more that food, and the body more than clothing...And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  Is then your are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?"  Luke 12:22-23, 25-26

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."  1 Peter 5:6-7

The Word of God does not call us to some sort of naivete; the world is an evil and wicked place in which scary things are commonplace and uncertainty is ever prevalent.  But our God is vastly, infinitely greater and He is WITH US as our LIGHT, SALVATION AND STRONGHOLD!  He promises to strengthen, help and uphold us.  He will provide for us and free us of deadly fear and care for us.  So let us trust and believe Him in these raging, unsettling times, and let us help one another to trust and believe Him.

And here is another thought to contemplate.  The unrest, tensions and fears of the world present opportunities for us to speak of Christ to those in our influences circles who are caught up in it because their security does rest in the Lord.  So as the events of the coming days unfold, be alert for opportunities He affords you to