God Pursues Man Jonah 1:1-4 Go to Nineveh – preach to them Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish “Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah.” v. 17 God Pursues Man 1. Aim: To show that we cannot flee from God, therefore we should try to find him not lose him. (CLICK) 2. Jonah 1:1-4 - God commanded: “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before Me.” a. Man is in flight - trying to escape - v. 3 “But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa” b. God is in pursuit - trying to catch - v. 4 “But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea” V. 17 “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah”

Why man tries to escape Guilt – afraid - Adam and Eve Sin – love of – Prodigal son Duty – escape - Jonah Man has always been trying to escape the presence of God. Three reasons why: (1) Has a sense of Guilt - afraid - Genesis 3:8,10 Adam and Eve were guilty of sin (2) He is in love with sin - Luke 15 - Prodigal son (3) Man wants to escape his duty - Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh 4. God does not want us to flee from Him a. He does not want to be separated from His creation b. Therefore when man flees God becomes active

God Pursues Jonah Adam and Eve - Gen. 3:9 Cain – Gen. 4:9 Hagar – Gen. 16 Samuel – 1 Sam. 3 Saul of Tarsus – Acts 22 Jonah Tried to flee to Tarshish Belly of a great fish GOD PURSUES MAN A. The history of the human race tells this story 1. Adam and Eve were pursued by God - Genesis 3:9 “And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where are you?” 2. God pursued Cain - Genesis 4:9 “And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?” 3. Hagar learned this truth - Genesis 16 a. After the conception of Ishmael, Sarah cast Hagar out of home b. She was wandering in the wilderness c. Angel of the Lord came to her - Genesis 16 d. Genesis 16:13 “Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are- the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, "Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” 4. Samuel was called at night - 1 Samuel 3:1-10 “...speak for your servant hears.” 5. God pursed Saul of Tarsus - Acts 22:6-10 a. Great light from heaven - Why are you persecuting me ? b. Who are you? I am Jesus of Nazareth. c. What shall I do? d. Go into Damascus and you will be told all things you are to do. 6. God pursued Jonah a. Jonah tried to flee to Tarshish b. Ended up in the belly of a great fish c. There he decided he would obey the command of God - same command – did not change or alter d. God’s command was the same “go to Nineveh” - Jonah went

God Pursues Lk. 14:23 “Go out into the highways…” Mk. 1:17 “Follow Me...” Jn. 12:44-45 “He who believes in Me…” 1 Jn. 4:9-10 “God sent His only begotten” Rom. 5:8 “God demonstrates His own love” B. God is in pursuit of all men today 1. Luke 14:23 “And the lord said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” 2. Mark 1:17 “Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Simon and Andrew 3. John 12:44-45 “Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.” 4. 1 John 4:9-10 “n this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 5. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Why Does God Pursue ? Not… But that He may… to punish prove power Save us Use us Comfort us Lk.19:10 Jn. 6:40 2 Sam. 12 WHY DOES GOD PURSUES MAN? A. Not that He: 1. May inflict punishment 2. May prove His power B. But that He may: 1. Save Us (CLICK) a. Luke 19:10 “The Son of man has come to seek and to save that which is lost.” b. John 6:40 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” c. II Samuel 12 – - Nathan - Lord sent Nathan to David (1) David had sinned and tried to cover up his sin with murder (2) v. 1 “And the LORD sent Nathan unto David.” (3) David repented 2. Use us (CLICK) a. That is why he followed Jonah - he was to preach to Nineveh b. I Samuel 3 - He pursued Samuel for this reason c. That is why God pursued Saul - Acts 26:16-18 - sending him to Gentiles (1) Acts 26:16-18 “But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins” 3. Comfort Us (CLICK) a. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” b. Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Jonah – Samuel - Saul Matt. 11:28-30 Matt. 5:4

God’s Method of Pursuit “…has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” Heb. 1:2 III. GOD’S METHOD OF PURSUIT A. Through His word 1. Hebrews 1:1-2 “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds”

God’s Method of Pursuit Adam – Gen. 3:9 “Lord called unto Adam” Cain – Gen. 4:6 “And the Lord said…” Jonah – Jon. 1:1 “Now the word of the Lord” Jn. 17:17 “Your word is truth” 2 Tim. 3:16-17 “inspiration of God” Mk. 16:15 “preach the gospel” a. Adam - Genesis 3:9 “And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said to him, Where are you?” b. Cain - Genesis 4:6 “And the Lord said to Cain,..... c. Jonah - 1:1 “Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah...” 2. John 17:17 “Sanctify them through the truth: Your word is truth.” 3. II Tim. 3:16-17 - inspired message from God 4. Mark 16:15 = go preach the gospel

God’s Method of Pursuit Love and Mercy Jn. 3:16 “God so loved the world” Rom. 2:4 “goodness of God” 2 Pet. 3:9 “all should come to repentance” By His love and Mercy 1. John 3:16 - love begets love “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” 2. Romans 2:4 “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 3. II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

God’s Method of Pursuit Adversity Jonah Cast into Sea - Great Fish – 3 days Jonah 2:2 “And he said: "I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, and He answered me. "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice.” By Adversity 1. The case of Jonah a. Cast into sea - swallowed by great fish - spent 3 days in the belly of the great fish b. Jonah 2:2 “And he said: "I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, And He answered me. "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice.” (CLICK) Affliction = trouble, adversity, distress c. He prayed to God while in the belly d. God got his attention Trouble – Distress - Adversity

God’s Method of Pursuit Adversity Romans 8:35-37 Who shall separate us…? Tribulation, distress, persecution…. For Your sake we are…. We are more than conquerors 2. Romans 8:35-37 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER." Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” a. All the evils are from without b. If we love Christ as we should - it will not destroy that love ! c. Only our heart’s condition can do that

God Pursues Man Foolish to flee - cannot escape Ps. 139:7-12 - Where can I flee from your presence? - You are there! Ps. 16:1 “in Thee do I put my trust” 1. It is foolish for man to try to flee from God a. Because we cannot escape God’s presence b. Psalms 139:7-12 “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hades, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.” c. Because a good man has nothing to fear in God’s presence - Psalms 16:1 “Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.” 2. Instead of fleeing from God, man should be fleeing from sin - his deadly enemy ! 3. Man should be seeking God, his best friend

God Pursues Man Isa. 55:6 “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near” Jer. 29:13 “you will seek Me and find Me” Matt. 7:7-8 Ask = given Seek = find Knock = opened 1. God may be found a. Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon Him while He is near” b. Jeremiah 29:13 “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” c. Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” 2. It is easy to find someone who is seeking for you 3. What a happy meeting when we find God and God finds us !

God Pursues Man Man must do his part ! Hear John 12:48 Believe John 8:24 Repent Luke 13:3 Confess Matt. 10:32-33 Baptized Mark 16:16 Faithful Matt. 24:13 1. God pursues man as far as He possibly can, yet man must do something on his part