100:00:00,640 –> 00:00:03,640A to thevation letter line 99200:00:03,640 –> 00:00:08,200We all have our hopes and our dreams of what our lives will be.300:00:08,200 –> 00:00:13,600We plan our families, we plan our finances,400:00:13,600 –> 00:00:18,760we plan our futures and then God breaks into the plan.500:00:18,760 –> 00:00:26,520The child is born, a loved one dies, the market crashes, a job is lost600:00:26,920 –> 00:00:31,320Suddenly your life is not what you thought, hoped or planned it would be.700:00:31,320 –> 00:00:34,680Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.800:00:34,680 –> 00:00:37,240I’m David Pick. Glad you could join us today.900:00:37,240 –> 00:00:39,799And Colin, many of us can identify with that.1000:00:39,799 –> 00:00:44,320Our lives aren’t, perhaps, what we thought they would be or hoped and planned.1100:00:44,320 –> 00:00:48,560Yes. And when disappointments come, we go one of two ways.1200:00:48,560 –> 00:00:52,959We either turn against God and we become bitter and antagonistic1300:00:53,320 –> 00:00:57,320or we’re softened by it and drawn closer to him.1400:00:57,320 –> 00:01:00,439The fascinating thing about the story of Jonah1500:01:00,439 –> 00:01:04,120is that his first reaction is actually resistance to God.1600:01:04,120 –> 00:01:06,440If you’re not going to give me the ministry that I want,1700:01:06,440 –> 00:01:08,879I’m out of here, I’m on a ship and I’m going away1800:01:08,879 –> 00:01:11,639and I’m not going to do what God is calling me to do.1900:01:11,639 –> 00:01:13,120So there’s antagonism.2000:01:13,120 –> 00:01:15,879The great thing is that God doesn’t let him go.2100:01:15,879 –> 00:01:20,239It’s the most marvellous story of a turnaround in a person’s life.2200:01:20,279 –> 00:01:22,599And eventually he comes to a place of saying,2300:01:22,599 –> 00:01:25,559you know, salvation comes from the Lord.2400:01:25,559 –> 00:01:28,620For many of us if life isn’t what we thought it would be,2500:01:28,620 –> 00:01:32,239rather than doing what Jonah did, what should Jonah have done?2600:01:32,239 –> 00:01:34,580And that’s the practical part of today’s message2700:01:34,580 –> 00:01:38,160as we look at how we cultivate the God-centered life.2800:01:38,160 –> 00:01:41,620We’re in Jonah 1 as we continue the message,2900:01:41,620 –> 00:01:44,040Resist God’s Call to Something New.3000:01:44,040 –> 00:01:45,559Here is Colin.3100:01:45,559 –> 00:01:48,660The word of the Lord comes to Jonah,3200:01:48,660 –> 00:01:50,360the son of Amedai,3300:01:50,360 –> 00:01:53,519go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it.3400:01:54,580 –> 00:01:58,220Because its great wickedness has come up before me…3500:01:59,379 –> 00:02:02,260Now, it really is very hard for us to grasp3600:02:02,260 –> 00:02:07,260how shocking this must have been for Jonah.3700:02:09,119 –> 00:02:11,500See, in Jonah’s lifetime,3800:02:11,500 –> 00:02:15,119there was one world superpower3900:02:15,919 –> 00:02:20,800that was the terror of all the nations around.4000:02:21,800 –> 00:02:25,800That one world superpower was Assyria,4100:02:25,800 –> 00:02:28,000the Assyrians,4200:02:28,000 –> 00:02:31,600and they were known for their brutality.4300:02:31,600 –> 00:02:34,399In fact, it’s a matter of history4400:02:34,399 –> 00:02:35,940that you can research for yourself,4500:02:35,940 –> 00:02:38,139though I do not recommend that you do it,4600:02:38,139 –> 00:02:40,199especially if you’re squeamish.4700:02:40,199 –> 00:02:44,320They had refined the art of torture4800:02:44,320 –> 00:02:47,059in extraordinary ways.4900:02:47,059 –> 00:02:48,000Matter of history.5000:02:48,000 –> 00:02:49,360The Assyrians.5100:02:50,600 –> 00:02:52,460They were the terror of the time,5200:02:52,460 –> 00:02:55,720and nations around Assyria lived in fear5300:02:56,639 –> 00:02:59,320that the might of Assyria would occupy them5400:02:59,320 –> 00:03:00,979or devastate them.5500:03:02,220 –> 00:03:04,440Of course, that is what ultimately happened5600:03:04,440 –> 00:03:07,000in Israel when the 10 tribes were evicted.5700:03:07,000 –> 00:03:09,820That happens, later, in the second book of Kings,5800:03:09,820 –> 00:03:11,880but that was after Jonah’s lifetime,5900:03:11,880 –> 00:03:13,479generation or so later.6000:03:15,160 –> 00:03:19,919Nineveh was one of the great Assyrian cities.6100:03:20,839 –> 00:03:23,119In fact, if you turn over just a few pages,6200:03:23,119 –> 00:03:25,779get some yellow in the book of Nahum,6300:03:25,779 –> 00:03:30,720here, Nahum chapter three and verse one,6400:03:31,979 –> 00:03:34,000notice how he describes Nineveh.6500:03:34,000 –> 00:03:35,539This is a woe to Nineveh,6600:03:35,539 –> 00:03:37,880Nahum chapter three and verse one.6700:03:38,960 –> 00:03:41,960Woe to the city of blood.6800:03:41,960 –> 00:03:43,059Full of lies.6900:03:43,059 –> 00:03:44,199Full of plunder.7000:03:44,240 –> 00:03:46,440And never without victims.7100:03:47,380 –> 00:03:49,380Can you imagine you’re planning your vacation7200:03:49,380 –> 00:03:52,779and you open your sunny vacation brochure7300:03:52,779 –> 00:03:55,740and it says, come to Nineveh.7400:03:55,740 –> 00:03:59,380You know, we have flights every day for your convenience.7500:03:59,380 –> 00:04:02,320Come and visit us in the city of blood.7600:04:02,320 –> 00:04:05,660Full of lies, full of plunder and never without victims.7700:04:06,600 –> 00:04:08,759I don’t think you’re gonna go there.7800:04:08,759 –> 00:04:12,020And Jonah didn’t wanna go there either.7900:04:12,020 –> 00:04:13,940Can you imagine the kind of struggle8000:04:14,160 –> 00:04:18,260that this man is thrown into as God’s word comes to him?8100:04:18,260 –> 00:04:19,739This man who’s highly esteemed,8200:04:19,739 –> 00:04:21,820giving wonderfully positive prophecies8300:04:21,820 –> 00:04:23,500to the people of God8400:04:23,500 –> 00:04:25,739that come true and expand the borders of God.8500:04:25,739 –> 00:04:27,660He’s settled and happy in what he’s doing8600:04:27,660 –> 00:04:30,459in dear old Gath Hefer, lovely country town,8700:04:30,459 –> 00:04:34,839and suddenly God says, I want you to go to Nineveh.8800:04:34,839 –> 00:04:37,299And the music stops in Jonah’s life.8900:04:38,420 –> 00:04:39,940Lord, I’m really happy in the ministry9000:04:39,940 –> 00:04:40,779you’ve given me here.9100:04:40,779 –> 00:04:43,640And it was you that called me to this ministry.9200:04:43,660 –> 00:04:46,880Yes, I know but I want you to go somewhere else.9300:04:46,880 –> 00:04:50,279You want me to leave the ministry that I love?9400:04:50,279 –> 00:04:51,119That’s right.9500:04:52,040 –> 00:04:53,820Where do you want me to go?9600:04:53,820 –> 00:04:54,660Nineveh.9700:04:55,799 –> 00:04:58,700Nineveh, that is in Assyria,9800:04:58,700 –> 00:05:01,380there are terrorists and torturers there.9900:05:02,519 –> 00:05:03,899What do you want me to say?10000:05:05,100 –> 00:05:06,480You don’t want me to tell them10100:05:06,480 –> 00:05:09,640that their borders will be extended, do you?10200:05:09,640 –> 00:05:12,160No, I want you to preach against that city.10300:05:13,160 –> 00:05:14,359You realize what they’ll do to me10400:05:14,359 –> 00:05:16,040if I preach against that city,10500:05:17,260 –> 00:05:20,160their wickedness has come before me God says.10600:05:21,100 –> 00:05:24,100I’m not surprised Lord everyone knows their wickedness.10700:05:24,100 –> 00:05:25,200I’m glad you do.10800:05:26,679 –> 00:05:28,100Why don’t you judge them for it?10900:05:28,100 –> 00:05:29,619Because if you judge them for it11000:05:29,619 –> 00:05:31,200and take away the power from Assyria,11100:05:31,200 –> 00:05:34,200all the nations around will be breathing11200:05:34,200 –> 00:05:37,119a huge sigh of relief.11300:05:37,119 –> 00:05:38,239They’re our nightmare.11400:05:38,239 –> 00:05:39,079Right?11500:05:40,160 –> 00:05:41,880Put yourself in Jonas shoes.11600:05:43,040 –> 00:05:44,959Successful ministry among God’s people,11700:05:44,959 –> 00:05:46,500known for prophesying good things11800:05:46,500 –> 00:05:48,299like extending the borders of Israel.11900:05:48,299 –> 00:05:51,480Good life, good work, good place.12000:05:53,200 –> 00:05:55,880And now the word of the Lord disturbs12100:05:55,880 –> 00:06:00,420this man’s comfortable life.12200:06:01,920 –> 00:06:04,920See, our culture says live your dream.12300:06:05,480 –> 00:06:10,320But our God disturbs our dreams.12400:06:11,679 –> 00:06:13,519We all have our hopes and our dreams12500:06:13,519 –> 00:06:16,399of what our lives will be.12600:06:16,399 –> 00:06:21,399We plan our families, we plan our finances,12700:06:23,200 –> 00:06:28,200we plan our futures, and then God breaks into the plan.12800:06:29,679 –> 00:06:33,500A child is born, a loved one dies,12900:06:33,820 –> 00:06:36,739the market crashes, a job is lost,13000:06:40,619 –> 00:06:42,739and suddenly your life is not what you thought,13100:06:42,739 –> 00:06:45,279hoped, or planned it would be.13200:06:46,459 –> 00:06:50,700Now when God stepped into Jonah’s plan,13300:06:50,700 –> 00:06:52,839Jonah’s heart was revealed.13400:06:54,220 –> 00:06:57,779The self-centeredness that was under the surface13500:06:57,779 –> 00:07:02,779of his very successful ministry was exposed.13600:07:03,220 –> 00:07:05,260And it was exposed when God called him13700:07:05,260 –> 00:07:10,260to leave something old and start something new.13800:07:12,940 –> 00:07:16,420Notice that what Jonah did in chapter one and verse three.13900:07:18,380 –> 00:07:22,079He ran away from the Lord and he headed for Tarshish.14000:07:22,079 –> 00:07:24,160He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship14100:07:24,160 –> 00:07:26,480bound for that port, and after paying the fare,14200:07:26,480 –> 00:07:28,500he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish14300:07:28,500 –> 00:07:31,799to flee from the Lord, and what does that mean?14400:07:33,119 –> 00:07:36,359Well, remember that Jonah was a prophet.14500:07:36,359 –> 00:07:39,500He knew that God is present everywhere.14600:07:40,600 –> 00:07:42,179His mind would have been filled14700:07:42,179 –> 00:07:44,880with scriptures already written at that time,14800:07:44,880 –> 00:07:47,920which would have included the psalms written by David,14900:07:47,920 –> 00:07:52,040like Psalm 139, where David writes these words.15000:07:52,040 –> 00:07:54,720Where can I go from your spirit?15100:07:54,720 –> 00:07:57,619Where can I flee from your presence?15200:07:57,619 –> 00:08:01,019If I settle on the far side of the sea,15300:08:01,940 –> 00:08:04,260even there your hand will guide me15400:08:04,260 –> 00:08:07,019and your right hand will hold me fast.15500:08:07,019 –> 00:08:10,239Now, Jonah would have known that, probably from memory.15600:08:11,220 –> 00:08:15,440Jonah knows that he cannot escape God’s presence.15700:08:15,440 –> 00:08:18,399What he’s trying to get away from here is God’s calling.15800:08:19,799 –> 00:08:21,579When he gets in the boat,15900:08:21,579 –> 00:08:25,540he is resigning the work that God has given him to do.16000:08:25,540 –> 00:08:26,940He’s saying, in effect,16100:08:26,940 –> 00:08:29,619there are other things to do besides being a missionary.16200:08:30,459 –> 00:08:31,579There are other things to do16300:08:31,579 –> 00:08:34,380besides giving the Word of the Lord.16400:08:34,380 –> 00:08:35,739I can go to another place16500:08:35,739 –> 00:08:37,859and I can worship the Lord in Tarshish16600:08:37,859 –> 00:08:39,020and I can do many good things16700:08:39,020 –> 00:08:40,659that will help many, many people.16800:08:41,799 –> 00:08:44,340He knows he can’t escape the presence of God.16900:08:44,340 –> 00:08:48,739What he’s running from is the calling of God.17000:08:49,940 –> 00:08:52,900And so he avoids a God-centered life.17100:08:52,900 –> 00:08:53,919He’s a believer.17200:08:55,320 –> 00:08:57,960He’s just not ready to do what God’s calling him to do.17300:08:58,580 –> 00:09:01,640See, he had planned where he wanted to live,17400:09:02,799 –> 00:09:04,880the work he wanted to do,17500:09:04,880 –> 00:09:06,900the life he wanted to enjoy,17600:09:07,760 –> 00:09:09,979and when God disturbed that plan,17700:09:11,119 –> 00:09:12,000he says, I’m off.17800:09:12,000 –> 00:09:13,200I quit.17900:09:13,200 –> 00:09:14,039I quit.18000:09:15,640 –> 00:09:19,440If your plan becomes more important than God’s plan,18100:09:20,440 –> 00:09:22,979it will stop you from living a God-centered life.18200:09:23,880 –> 00:09:26,340What if God wants you in another place?18300:09:27,799 –> 00:09:31,059Honestly, what if God wants you to do another work?18400:09:32,719 –> 00:09:36,179What if God has a whole new chapter of your life18500:09:36,179 –> 00:09:39,859that is going to be strategic for the advance of the gospel18600:09:39,859 –> 00:09:41,979in a very difficult place?18700:09:42,859 –> 00:09:44,039You’re listening to Open The Bible18800:09:44,039 –> 00:09:45,559with Pastor Colin Smith,18900:09:45,559 –> 00:09:48,539and the message called Resist God’s Call19000:09:48,539 –> 00:09:50,520based on the book of Jonah.19100:09:50,520 –> 00:09:52,200And we’ve got to pause the message19200:09:53,159 –> 00:09:55,400briefly there, but we’ll be back shortly.19300:09:55,400 –> 00:09:57,359The message is a part of a larger series19400:09:57,359 –> 00:10:00,719called how to avoid a God-centered life19500:10:00,719 –> 00:10:02,419based on the book of Jonah.19600:10:02,419 –> 00:10:05,419And if you ever miss one of the messages in the series,19700:10:05,419 –> 00:10:07,039you can go back and listen again19800:10:07,039 –> 00:10:10,039or catch up with any programs you might have missed19900:10:10,039 –> 00:10:14,799online at our website, www.openthebible.org.uk,20000:10:14,799 –> 00:10:17,080and you can also find Pastor Colin’s messages20100:10:17,080 –> 00:10:19,400on all the main podcast sites.20200:10:19,400 –> 00:10:23,260You can find them by searching for Open The Bible, UK,20300:10:23,260 –> 00:10:26,219or follow the link from our website.20400:10:26,219 –> 00:10:28,419Open the Bible is supported by our listeners20500:10:28,419 –> 00:10:30,960and we’re only able to stay on the air20600:10:30,960 –> 00:10:34,059and on the internet because of the generous donations20700:10:34,059 –> 00:10:34,900by our listeners.20800:10:34,900 –> 00:10:38,780So if you do give to Open Bible, thank you so much.20900:10:38,780 –> 00:10:40,380Later on in the program I’ll be talking21000:10:40,380 –> 00:10:42,859to Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham21100:10:42,859 –> 00:10:44,780about a special offer this month,21200:10:44,780 –> 00:10:48,059which you can have if you set up a new direct debit21300:10:48,140 –> 00:10:50,460to the work of Open the Bible or a one-off gift.21400:10:50,460 –> 00:10:53,940So I hope you’ll stay around for that later in the program.21500:10:53,940 –> 00:10:55,700Back to the message now,21600:10:55,700 –> 00:10:59,159we’re in Jonah, chapter one, and here again is Colin.21700:10:59,159 –> 00:11:01,760Now, with this strange title,21800:11:01,760 –> 00:11:03,299how to avoid a God-centered life,21900:11:03,299 –> 00:11:05,539I’m gonna keep turning that on its head22000:11:05,539 –> 00:11:06,940because none of us who knows22100:11:06,940 –> 00:11:08,900and loves the Lord wants to be like Jonah.22200:11:08,900 –> 00:11:11,900Jonah wrote the book because he’s saying,22300:11:11,900 –> 00:11:13,840don’t go down the path I did.22400:11:15,340 –> 00:11:17,260So I want to ask the question learning22500:11:17,260 –> 00:11:19,880from Jonah’s experience,22600:11:19,880 –> 00:11:23,539how do I cultivate a God-centered life?22700:11:23,539 –> 00:11:24,559How can I do that?22800:11:25,479 –> 00:11:28,979And I want to give three pointers here22900:11:28,979 –> 00:11:31,460that will show us the path.23000:11:31,460 –> 00:11:32,979Here’s the first.23100:11:32,979 –> 00:11:35,599If you want to develop a God-centered life,23200:11:35,599 –> 00:11:38,080if you want to be different from Jonah,23300:11:38,080 –> 00:11:41,539recognize that whatever you are doing now23400:11:41,539 –> 00:11:43,979is only for a time.23500:11:44,700 –> 00:11:47,400See, Jonah had held so tightly23600:11:47,400 –> 00:11:49,659to the ministry he loved in Gath Heffer23700:11:49,659 –> 00:11:51,940that when God said, I got something else,23800:11:51,940 –> 00:11:54,000his inner life unraveled.23900:11:55,580 –> 00:11:57,799The world wants you to believe that24000:11:57,799 –> 00:12:00,900everything is stable, everything is secure,24100:12:00,900 –> 00:12:04,020and everything is permanent, but it is not so.24200:12:05,859 –> 00:12:10,859The home where you live is yours for a time.24300:12:11,760 –> 00:12:16,760The work that you do is yours for a time.24400:12:18,059 –> 00:12:23,059The people you love are yours for a time.24500:12:24,619 –> 00:12:27,619One day, your home, the home that you love,24600:12:27,619 –> 00:12:29,419will be lived in by others.24700:12:31,280 –> 00:12:35,679One day, your work will be continued by others.24800:12:36,580 –> 00:12:39,700One day, your money will belong to others.24900:12:39,739 –> 00:12:41,140You cannot take it with you.25000:12:42,479 –> 00:12:45,159James says, what is your life?25100:12:46,059 –> 00:12:46,919Here’s what it’s like.25200:12:46,919 –> 00:12:51,400He says you are like a mist that appears for a little while25300:12:51,400 –> 00:12:52,840and then it’s gone.25400:12:52,840 –> 00:12:53,780That’s your life.25500:12:55,380 –> 00:12:56,960David says in the Psalms,25600:12:56,960 –> 00:13:00,059teach us, O God, to number our days,25700:13:00,059 –> 00:13:03,080to number our days, to know how short they are,25800:13:04,059 –> 00:13:06,960in order that we may gain a heart of wisdom.25900:13:07,799 –> 00:13:11,059In other words, hold lightly26000:13:12,020 –> 00:13:14,719to whatever God has trusted into your hands right now.26100:13:14,719 –> 00:13:17,419Hold lightly to whatever you are doing right now26200:13:18,380 –> 00:13:22,099because it will not be forever.26300:13:23,599 –> 00:13:25,940And if you can do that,26400:13:25,940 –> 00:13:27,080you’ll be in a good position26500:13:27,080 –> 00:13:29,020if God calls you to something new.26600:13:30,419 –> 00:13:34,099Second, if you want to cultivate a God-centered life,26700:13:34,099 –> 00:13:38,400keep your dreams on the altar of God.26800:13:38,400 –> 00:13:40,559Boy, this is so hard to do.26900:13:40,559 –> 00:13:42,840And I’m not saying here, even place them27000:13:42,840 –> 00:13:43,760on the altar of God.27100:13:43,760 –> 00:13:45,280I’m saying, keep them,27200:13:45,280 –> 00:13:50,280keep your dreams always on the altar of God.27300:13:52,599 –> 00:13:55,559Now I have hopes and dreams for my own life,27400:13:56,479 –> 00:13:57,799for our church.27500:13:59,460 –> 00:14:01,880We all have hopes and dreams, nothing wrong with that,27600:14:01,880 –> 00:14:03,119that’s a good thing.27700:14:04,659 –> 00:14:06,380But we have no rights,27800:14:07,460 –> 00:14:09,320there are no certainties,27900:14:10,440 –> 00:14:14,000and God is free at any time to disturb your dream,28000:14:14,000 –> 00:14:15,280my dream, our dream,28100:14:15,280 –> 00:14:19,460and to give us a completely new and different calling.28200:14:20,760 –> 00:14:25,559So keep your dreams on the altar of God.28300:14:28,859 –> 00:14:31,020None of us knows the sovereign plan of God.28400:14:31,820 –> 00:14:34,200But because God is always at work,28500:14:35,179 –> 00:14:39,140I think it is reasonable for us to assume28600:14:39,140 –> 00:14:44,000that while God has planned for all of us to be here today,28700:14:45,099 –> 00:14:49,020His plan will have many of us28800:14:49,020 –> 00:14:51,659in a different place a year from today.28900:14:53,500 –> 00:14:56,179Some of us will be with Christ a year from today.29000:14:56,359 –> 00:15:01,359Some of us may be worshiping and serving29100:15:02,440 –> 00:15:05,080in another place a year from today.29200:15:06,880 –> 00:15:09,900A year from today God may have you29300:15:09,900 –> 00:15:13,799in another part of the world doing something29400:15:13,799 –> 00:15:16,619that right now you cannot even imagine yourself doing.29500:15:16,619 –> 00:15:18,140It hasn’t even entered your mind,29600:15:18,140 –> 00:15:20,479but God will call you to it this year.29700:15:21,780 –> 00:15:25,979And if God will call you to something new,29800:15:26,039 –> 00:15:28,880it will be a defining moment for you29900:15:30,419 –> 00:15:31,500as it was for Jonah,30000:15:32,500 –> 00:15:35,419revealed what was going on in his life.30100:15:37,760 –> 00:15:42,760So I think that we need to be praying like this,30200:15:43,580 –> 00:15:48,580Lord help me to keep all my dreams on your altar.30300:15:52,140 –> 00:15:54,099Don’t let me be like Jonah.30400:15:54,880 –> 00:15:59,880Don’t let me get so comfortable in my home,30500:16:00,419 –> 00:16:04,380in my church, with my friends, in my ministry,30600:16:04,380 –> 00:16:07,640don’t let me hold that so tightly30700:16:07,640 –> 00:16:10,859that I would be unwilling to do something30800:16:10,859 –> 00:16:13,380completely different for the sake of Christ,30900:16:13,380 –> 00:16:17,159for the sake of the lost and for the sake of the gospel.31000:16:18,960 –> 00:16:20,679Recognize that whatever you are doing31100:16:20,700 –> 00:16:21,840is only for a time.31200:16:23,280 –> 00:16:28,280And keep your dreams on the altar of God,31300:16:28,500 –> 00:16:29,640whatever they are.31400:16:31,799 –> 00:16:36,260And here’s the third pointer from Jonah’s experience,31500:16:36,260 –> 00:16:40,599practice making yourself available to God.31600:16:40,599 –> 00:16:43,739Now honestly, the more comfortable you are in your life,31700:16:43,739 –> 00:16:46,840the happier you are, the more difficult this is to do.31800:16:48,000 –> 00:16:50,500When you are happy, when you love what you do,31900:16:50,840 –> 00:16:52,880when everything seems to be going wonderfully well,32000:16:52,880 –> 00:16:54,380when God is obviously blessing32100:16:54,380 –> 00:16:55,799and his hand is upon you,32200:16:55,799 –> 00:16:59,039it is really hard when you’re happy,32300:17:00,039 –> 00:17:04,119it is really hard to keep your heart in a place32400:17:04,119 –> 00:17:06,000where you could honestly say to the Lord,32500:17:06,000 –> 00:17:09,180if there’s something else that you want me to do,32600:17:10,160 –> 00:17:11,319I’m willing to do it.32700:17:13,000 –> 00:17:14,839Have you ever honestly asked32800:17:14,839 –> 00:17:16,599if God wants you on the mission field?32900:17:16,599 –> 00:17:20,560Have you ever asked if God wants you on the mission field?33000:17:20,640 –> 00:17:21,459Ever?33100:17:23,839 –> 00:17:26,280Have you explored whether there is some way33200:17:26,280 –> 00:17:28,239that your gifts could be used33300:17:28,239 –> 00:17:30,239in cross-cultural ministry33400:17:32,000 –> 00:17:34,560in this great city or somewhere else in the world?33500:17:36,020 –> 00:17:39,000Younger folks, when you’re thinking about your career,33600:17:40,619 –> 00:17:42,920a little later on for those who have children,33700:17:42,920 –> 00:17:46,239when your children are at school33800:17:46,239 –> 00:17:48,839and you have time, perhaps, free,33900:17:48,839 –> 00:17:51,439some parents have time during the day34000:17:51,439 –> 00:17:54,239to devote to something and you make decisions34100:17:54,239 –> 00:17:57,439about what you will devote your time during the day to34200:17:57,439 –> 00:17:59,400while your children are at school.34300:17:59,400 –> 00:18:03,040And then later on, when you’re thinking about retirement.34400:18:05,479 –> 00:18:09,579Have you come before the Lord and asked him34500:18:09,579 –> 00:18:13,560how you can be most useful to him with that time?34600:18:15,560 –> 00:18:17,280Or is it just all about you,34700:18:17,280 –> 00:18:18,760these decisions about career34800:18:18,760 –> 00:18:20,760and what you do while the kids are at school34900:18:20,760 –> 00:18:22,959and what you will do when you retire35000:18:22,959 –> 00:18:24,540from the work you are now doing.35100:18:26,239 –> 00:18:30,079See practice making yourself available to God.35200:18:31,040 –> 00:18:33,319That is proactively coming before him35300:18:33,319 –> 00:18:34,920and saying as best I’m able35400:18:34,920 –> 00:18:37,900I want to be open to anything you will call me to do35500:18:37,900 –> 00:18:40,680and therefore explore what it is35600:18:40,680 –> 00:18:42,719that he might be able to do35700:18:42,719 –> 00:18:44,000with the kinds of gifts35800:18:44,000 –> 00:18:46,880and opportunities that have been trusted into your hand.35900:18:47,880 –> 00:18:52,880Jonah is saying I spent much of my life36000:18:53,160 –> 00:18:57,760even as an esteemed prophet among God’s people36100:18:57,760 –> 00:19:00,719avoiding a God centered life36200:19:01,599 –> 00:19:03,280and looking back as an older man36300:19:03,280 –> 00:19:06,319he’s writing this book unto the inspiration of the spirit36400:19:06,319 –> 00:19:08,239and he’s saying don’t go there.36500:19:10,140 –> 00:19:12,219Remember whatever God has given to you now36600:19:12,219 –> 00:19:14,239and however much you love what God’s given to you now36700:19:14,280 –> 00:19:15,359it’s only for a time36800:19:17,099 –> 00:19:19,099place that dream on the altar of God36900:19:20,719 –> 00:19:23,719and practice your making yourself available to God37000:19:23,719 –> 00:19:28,199and do that, do that on a regular basis.37100:19:30,459 –> 00:19:34,439Now as I’ve tried to ponder this story37200:19:34,439 –> 00:19:36,540and the place that it has in the bible37300:19:37,760 –> 00:19:40,079it’s come home to me with great force37400:19:40,079 –> 00:19:43,500that there is an extraordinary contrast37500:19:43,500 –> 00:19:46,500between Jonah and Jesus.37600:19:47,599 –> 00:19:49,760See, think about Jonah.37700:19:49,760 –> 00:19:52,300He lives in a good place.37800:19:52,300 –> 00:19:54,579He’s doing a good work37900:19:54,579 –> 00:19:56,760and he’s enjoying a good life.38000:19:58,420 –> 00:20:00,500And God says to him, Jonah,38100:20:00,500 –> 00:20:03,339I want you to go to another place.38200:20:03,339 –> 00:20:05,660I want you to do another work.38300:20:05,660 –> 00:20:08,180I want you to live another life38400:20:08,180 –> 00:20:12,420for the sake of people who are facing judgment.38500:20:13,859 –> 00:20:18,160And Jonah heard the call of God and he said, no.38600:20:20,660 –> 00:20:23,800Now think about the experience of the Son of God.38700:20:24,660 –> 00:20:26,699I’m thinking before the incarnation,38800:20:26,699 –> 00:20:29,599before he comes into the world, taking our flesh.38900:20:30,760 –> 00:20:32,939Think about the place where he was39000:20:34,140 –> 00:20:36,880surrounded by the joy and the life of heaven.39100:20:38,180 –> 00:20:39,660Think of the work he did,39200:20:39,660 –> 00:20:42,819running the universe by the word of his power.39300:20:44,060 –> 00:20:45,719Think of the life he enjoyed,39400:20:45,719 –> 00:20:49,020adored by angels with the spheres39500:20:49,020 –> 00:20:51,900of the universe at his feet.39600:20:53,839 –> 00:20:55,859And the Father says to the Son,39700:20:55,859 –> 00:20:58,780I want you to go to another place39800:21:00,239 –> 00:21:02,219where you will be utterly rejected.39900:21:02,219 –> 00:21:05,180I want you to live another life40000:21:05,180 –> 00:21:09,140that will lead to torture and crucifixion and death.40100:21:10,119 –> 00:21:13,060And I want you to do this work40200:21:13,060 –> 00:21:18,060to reach people I love and you love, Son,40300:21:18,900 –> 00:21:23,900who are under the imminent judgment of God.40400:21:26,239 –> 00:21:28,599And Jesus said, yes.40500:21:31,400 –> 00:21:35,979Now, that caused me to frame this prayer40600:21:35,979 –> 00:21:39,920that I hope you will make yours and ours during this series.40700:21:39,920 –> 00:21:41,739It’s a very simple prayer.40800:21:41,739 –> 00:21:46,739Lord, make me less like Jonah and more like Jesus.40900:21:50,819 –> 00:21:54,160I need to pray that because I see so much of Jonah in myself.41000:21:55,859 –> 00:22:00,859Lord, make me less like Jonah and more like Jesus.41100:22:06,780 –> 00:22:09,180That’s a wonderful prayer for us.41200:22:09,180 –> 00:22:13,939Lord, make us less like Jonah and more like Jesus.41300:22:13,939 –> 00:22:15,500You’ve been listening to open the Bible41400:22:15,500 –> 00:22:17,339with Pastor Collins Smith and a message41500:22:17,339 –> 00:22:20,660called Resist God’s Call to Something New,41600:22:20,660 –> 00:22:24,359part of the series How to Avoid a God-Centered Life41700:22:24,359 –> 00:22:26,160based on the Book of Jonah.41800:22:26,160 –> 00:22:29,479And there’s a great story in that for all of us, I think.41900:22:30,380 –> 00:22:32,079If you ever miss one of the series42000:22:32,079 –> 00:22:33,939you can easily catch up or go back42100:22:34,280 –> 00:22:36,900and listen again by coming online to our website,42200:22:36,900 –> 00:22:40,079that’s at openthebible.org.uk,42300:22:40,079 –> 00:22:43,160or finding us as a podcast on all the main podcast sites42400:22:43,160 –> 00:22:46,680by searching for Open the Bible UK.42500:22:46,680 –> 00:22:47,800If you’re on our website,42600:22:47,800 –> 00:22:51,579I hope you’ll check for all the many resources available42700:22:51,579 –> 00:22:53,800to help individual Christians,42800:22:53,800 –> 00:22:56,640Bible study groups, and churches.42900:22:56,640 –> 00:22:59,500And one of those is Open the Bible Daily,43000:22:59,500 –> 00:23:03,640it’s a series of short two to three minute daily reflections43100:23:03,640 –> 00:23:05,859based on Pastor Colin’s teaching43200:23:05,859 –> 00:23:08,119and read specially in the UK.43300:23:08,119 –> 00:23:09,439There’s a new one every day43400:23:09,439 –> 00:23:12,979and many people find it a great way to start the day.43500:23:13,819 –> 00:23:17,239Open the Bible is supported financially by our listeners,43600:23:17,239 –> 00:23:19,680it’s donations from people just like you43700:23:19,680 –> 00:23:23,800which keeps Open the Bible on the air and on the internet.43800:23:23,800 –> 00:23:26,040So if you already give to support the work,43900:23:26,040 –> 00:23:27,680thank you so much.44000:23:27,680 –> 00:23:29,959If that’s something you’ve been thinking of doing44100:23:29,959 –> 00:23:33,839either with a one-off gift or as a regular donation,44200:23:33,839 –> 00:23:37,400we’d love to say thank you by offering you a free gift.44300:23:37,400 –> 00:23:38,459Here’s Open the Bible’s44400:23:38,459 –> 00:23:40,680Amanda Cunningham to tell us about it.44500:23:40,680 –> 00:23:42,359I don’t know about you, David44600:23:42,359 –> 00:23:44,739but I can’t walk into a shop at the moment44700:23:44,739 –> 00:23:48,560without being reminded that it is Valentine’s season.44800:23:48,560 –> 00:23:52,479Cards, chocolates, and the word love everywhere you look.44900:23:52,479 –> 00:23:57,479But this month, I’ve been struck by a deeper, better love,45000:23:57,560 –> 00:24:00,119the kind we see in the gospels.45100:24:00,119 –> 00:24:01,699At Open the Bible UK,45200:24:01,699 –> 00:24:05,160we are reading gospel stories by Andrew Wilson45300:24:05,160 –> 00:24:08,000and I have found it such a helpful book.45400:24:08,000 –> 00:24:10,819It explores real encounters with Jesus,45500:24:10,819 –> 00:24:14,599conversations and moments that reveal who he is,45600:24:14,599 –> 00:24:18,420why he came, and the kind of love that he offers,45700:24:18,420 –> 00:24:21,680a love that pursues, forgives, restores,45800:24:21,680 –> 00:24:23,739and never lets go.45900:24:23,739 –> 00:24:26,400Gospel stories is our free thank you gift46000:24:26,420 –> 00:24:30,439when you give a one-off donation of £50 or more46100:24:30,439 –> 00:24:34,739or set up a new direct debit of just £5 a month46200:24:34,739 –> 00:24:38,819but please do remember to include your name and address46300:24:38,819 –> 00:24:40,880so that we can send your copy to you.46400:24:40,880 –> 00:24:43,719So that offer is available all this month46500:24:43,719 –> 00:24:46,660and you can find full terms and conditions46600:24:46,660 –> 00:24:49,339and you can give online at our website46700:24:49,339 –> 00:24:50,859openthebible.org.uk46800:24:52,400 –> 00:24:54,739And again, if you give through the website,46900:24:54,780 –> 00:24:57,260please remember to give your full name and address47000:24:57,260 –> 00:24:58,800so we can send you your gift.47100:24:59,579 –> 00:25:02,160For Pastor Colin Smith and Open the Bible,47200:25:02,160 –> 00:25:05,479I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time.47300:25:18,400 –> 00:25:20,319When you’re running from the Lord,47400:25:20,319 –> 00:25:24,119your circumstances are not a reliable guide.47500:25:24,119 –> 00:25:27,160Find out why next time on Open the Bible.