Subject: JONAHS CALL MORNING DEVOTION & SERMONETTES FOR MINISTERS IN TRAINING September 25, 2014 Daily Bible Reading: Entire book of OBADIAH & JONAH “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” (Jonah 1:2) Here is Jonah’s commission and call to duty. Our verse tells of the waking, walk, ward, and warfare of his duty. WAKING. “Arise.” This is a rousing call to action. It said to Jonah, “Get going.” This “arise” is too strong for most church members, however. They want to sit and do nothing. Try enlisting them to service in the church and they are full of excuses. Furthermore, they will vote against any program in church that is moving forward the work of the Gospel. WALK. “Go to Nineveh.” This meant a walk of five to six hundred miles for Jonah. Fulfilling our calling will not be easy, but it will require much effort just to get to the place of service. You may have to spend months of laborious study and training for your task. It will require much dedication and discipline to adequately prepare for your calling. But every duty in life has its walking part. WARD. “Go to Nineveh, that great city.” Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, the nation which eventually took the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity. Thus there was no prestige in going to Nineveh even though it was a great city, for Nineveh was a hostile city to God’s people. Jonah was called to go to a place which was very wicked. No one likes to serve in a difficult place. Folk want to serve where they will be accepted and treated with high respect. But if you are going to do the will of God, you can expect assignments which will take you into hostile areas that will require much courage to minister and fulfill your duty. WARFARE. “Cry against it, for their wickedness is come up before me.” Jonah was to preach against sin. This is definitely not a popular message to preach. However, Nineveh needed the message for they were very wicked. Our society also needs this message, for it is a very wicked society. But few are the preachers who have the spiritual boldness and integrity to preach against sin. This failure has only encouraged the increase of sin in our land. However, a pulpit that will not denounce sin will bring no revival to the land. END Daily Bible Reading: Sermonettes #1.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 13:33:15 +0000