Download - Unwanted Grace Jonah 1-4 Unwanted Grace Jonah 1-4 Rev. Reuben Gershom B. Foncardas Jr

Unwanted Unwanted GraceGrace

Jonah 1-4Jonah 1-4

Rev. Reuben Gershom B. Foncardas Jr.

From a prophet of prosperity From a prophet of prosperity (2 Kings 14:25)(2 Kings 14:25) to a to a proclaimer of penitency, Jonah proclaimer of penitency, Jonah refused to shoulder his refused to shoulder his prophetic burden from the prophetic burden from the Lord. He knew through his Lord. He knew through his contemporary prophets Amos contemporary prophets Amos (Am 5:27; 7:8; 8:2)(Am 5:27; 7:8; 8:2) and Hosea and Hosea (Hos 9:3; 10:6; 11:5)(Hos 9:3; 10:6; 11:5) that God that God would chastise Israel through would chastise Israel through the “rod” of Assyria whose the “rod” of Assyria whose capital city is Nineveh.capital city is Nineveh.

From a prophet of prosperity From a prophet of prosperity (2 Kings 14:25)(2 Kings 14:25) to a to a proclaimer of penitency, Jonah proclaimer of penitency, Jonah refused to shoulder his refused to shoulder his prophetic burden from the prophetic burden from the Lord. He knew through his Lord. He knew through his contemporary prophets Amos contemporary prophets Amos (Am 5:27; 7:8; 8:2)(Am 5:27; 7:8; 8:2) and Hosea and Hosea (Hos 9:3; 10:6; 11:5)(Hos 9:3; 10:6; 11:5) that God that God would chastise Israel through would chastise Israel through the “rod” of Assyria whose the “rod” of Assyria whose capital city is Nineveh.capital city is Nineveh.

He delighted at the thought of He delighted at the thought of the Ninevites’ destruction and the Ninevites’ destruction and distressed over the possibility distressed over the possibility of their repentance. God’s call of their repentance. God’s call for him to preach in Nineveh for him to preach in Nineveh was therefore God’s grace he was therefore God’s grace he did not want for them.did not want for them.

He delighted at the thought of He delighted at the thought of the Ninevites’ destruction and the Ninevites’ destruction and distressed over the possibility distressed over the possibility of their repentance. God’s call of their repentance. God’s call for him to preach in Nineveh for him to preach in Nineveh was therefore God’s grace he was therefore God’s grace he did not want for them.did not want for them.

There are times when God There are times when God places us in situations we do places us in situations we do not like. If we were given the not like. If we were given the choice, we would prefer choice, we would prefer otherwise.otherwise.

There are times when God There are times when God places us in situations we do places us in situations we do not like. If we were given the not like. If we were given the choice, we would prefer choice, we would prefer otherwise.otherwise.

Door # 1

Growing Christian

Very Healthy

Door # 2

Growing Christian

Cancer Stricken

When God gives us an When God gives us an assignment, we receive grace assignment, we receive grace from the Lord. If we do not like from the Lord. If we do not like the assignment, we receive an the assignment, we receive an unwanted grace from the Lord.unwanted grace from the Lord.

When God gives us an When God gives us an assignment, we receive grace assignment, we receive grace from the Lord. If we do not like from the Lord. If we do not like the assignment, we receive an the assignment, we receive an unwanted grace from the Lord.unwanted grace from the Lord.

Two realities we need to Two realities we need to acceptaccept

Two realities we need to Two realities we need to acceptaccept

1.1. We all have assignments.We all have assignments.1.1. We all have assignments.We all have assignments.

2.2. We always have We always have assignments.assignments.

2.2. We always have We always have assignments.assignments.

•One-time assignmentsOne-time assignments•One-time assignmentsOne-time assignments

•Life-long assignmentsLife-long assignments•Life-long assignmentsLife-long assignments

Jonah received an unwanted Jonah received an unwanted grace from the Lord. He did grace from the Lord. He did not like the assignment for 2 not like the assignment for 2 reasons:reasons:

Jonah received an unwanted Jonah received an unwanted grace from the Lord. He did grace from the Lord. He did not like the assignment for 2 not like the assignment for 2 reasons:reasons:

1.1. He could be killed.He could be killed.1.1. He could be killed.He could be killed.

2.2. They could be spared.They could be spared.2.2. They could be spared.They could be spared.

So why does God send So why does God send unwanted grace?unwanted grace?

So why does God send So why does God send unwanted grace?unwanted grace?

God calls us to this unwanted God calls us to this unwanted grace to take greater risks grace to take greater risks than we ever imagined, to face than we ever imagined, to face stronger forces than we ever stronger forces than we ever dreamed of, and to fight dreamed of, and to fight bigger battles than we ever bigger battles than we ever thought possible.thought possible.

God calls us to this unwanted God calls us to this unwanted grace to take greater risks grace to take greater risks than we ever imagined, to face than we ever imagined, to face stronger forces than we ever stronger forces than we ever dreamed of, and to fight dreamed of, and to fight bigger battles than we ever bigger battles than we ever thought possible.thought possible.

How we respond to God’s How we respond to God’s unwanted grace is up to us.unwanted grace is up to us.How we respond to God’s How we respond to God’s

unwanted grace is up to us.unwanted grace is up to us.

• God’s unwanted grace can God’s unwanted grace can make us ANGRY (4:1-4).make us ANGRY (4:1-4).


1.1. God sends unwanted God sends unwanted grace to call unbelievers grace to call unbelievers to himself (1:1-2, 16; to himself (1:1-2, 16; 3:5-10).3:5-10).


• Have you any right to be Have you any right to be angry? (4:4)angry? (4:4)

• Have you any right to be Have you any right to be angry? (4:4)angry? (4:4)





• We become angry because We become angry because we have self-centered we have self-centered hearts!hearts!

• We become angry because We become angry because we have self-centered we have self-centered hearts!hearts!





• Salvation is of the Lord!Salvation is of the Lord!• Salvation is of the Lord!Salvation is of the Lord!

• God’s unwanted grace can God’s unwanted grace can make us RUN (1:3; 4:2-5).make us RUN (1:3; 4:2-5).


2.2. God sends unwanted God sends unwanted grace to call believers to grace to call believers to himself (1:3-15, 17; 3:1-himself (1:3-15, 17; 3:1-4).4).


• We don’t want to minister We don’t want to minister to our enemies. We’d to our enemies. We’d rather have someone else rather have someone else do it.do it.

• We don’t want to minister We don’t want to minister to our enemies. We’d to our enemies. We’d rather have someone else rather have someone else do it.do it.





• We run because we have We run because we have high-and-mighty hearts.high-and-mighty hearts.

• We run because we have We run because we have high-and-mighty hearts.high-and-mighty hearts.





• God passionately pursues God passionately pursues us so we will passionately us so we will passionately pursue Him.pursue Him.

• God passionately pursues God passionately pursues us so we will passionately us so we will passionately pursue Him.pursue Him.

• God’s unwanted grace can God’s unwanted grace can make us NEW (2:1-10; 3:3-make us NEW (2:1-10; 3:3-4; 4:6-11).4; 4:6-11).

• God’s unwanted grace can God’s unwanted grace can make us NEW (2:1-10; 3:3-make us NEW (2:1-10; 3:3-4; 4:6-11).4; 4:6-11).

3.3. God sends unwanted God sends unwanted grace to an grace to an unresponsive heart (1:3, unresponsive heart (1:3, 6-12; 4:8-9).6-12; 4:8-9).

3.3. God sends unwanted God sends unwanted grace to an grace to an unresponsive heart (1:3, unresponsive heart (1:3, 6-12; 4:8-9).6-12; 4:8-9).

• When are we ever qualified When are we ever qualified to receive God’s grace? to receive God’s grace? Never!Never!

• When are we ever qualified When are we ever qualified to receive God’s grace? to receive God’s grace? Never!Never!

Đ Is it possible to receive an Is it possible to receive an assignment from the Lord assignment from the Lord without us knowing it?without us knowing it?


REFLECTIONREFLECTIONREFLECTIONREFLECTION

Ā Yes! Some Christians have Yes! Some Christians have not fully understood that not fully understood that their life-long God-given their life-long God-given assignment is to make assignment is to make disciples. disciples.

Ā Yes! Some Christians have Yes! Some Christians have not fully understood that not fully understood that their life-long God-given their life-long God-given assignment is to make assignment is to make disciples. disciples.




Ā Yes! Other Christians are Yes! Other Christians are not aware that their difficult not aware that their difficult situation is an assignment situation is an assignment from the Lord. from the Lord.

Ā Yes! Other Christians are Yes! Other Christians are not aware that their difficult not aware that their difficult situation is an assignment situation is an assignment from the Lord. from the Lord.

When God sends you an When God sends you an unwanted grace, unwanted grace, don’t run don’t run andand don’t get angry don’t get angry. It is a . It is a great honor to serve our great honor to serve our King and to share in our King and to share in our

Savior’s sufferings.Savior’s sufferings.

When God sends you an When God sends you an unwanted grace, unwanted grace, don’t run don’t run andand don’t get angry don’t get angry. It is a . It is a great honor to serve our great honor to serve our King and to share in our King and to share in our

Savior’s sufferings.Savior’s sufferings.


Yes, we may experience Yes, we may experience brokenness when God brokenness when God sends unwanted grace.sends unwanted grace.

Yes, we may experience Yes, we may experience brokenness when God brokenness when God sends unwanted grace.sends unwanted grace.


But brokenness is facing But brokenness is facing ourselves in ways we never ourselves in ways we never

would so that we can do would so that we can do the things we never could.the things we never could.

But brokenness is facing But brokenness is facing ourselves in ways we never ourselves in ways we never

would so that we can do would so that we can do the things we never could.the things we never could.

Download - Unwanted Grace Jonah 1-4 Unwanted Grace Jonah 1-4 Rev. Reuben Gershom B. Foncardas Jr

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