Can you believe autumn has arrived. It seems like only yesterday spring had sprung and we were celebrating Memorial Day. Now, Labor Day has passed and we are gearing toward Thanksgiving and Christmas. The stores here are already promoting those “two big days.” In southwest Florida, autumn is a nice time of the year. We have a three season climate: warm, hot, and sweltering. We paid for our abnormally cold winter with a sweltering summer. With the coming of the fall season, though, our temps will moderate and be very pleasant. Come on down if you can. If you’re a full timer like my family and me, you will be happy to see the humid temperatures settle down into the comfortable range.
Yesterday at Church I preached a message called, “Spiritually Injured.” We examined three people who were spiritually injured by ----------- the Lord. You heard right, spiritually injured by the Lord. Jonah, Elijah, and Peter were injured because they were told them something they never thought they would hear fall from the lips of God. So what were they told, how were they injured, and what was the final outcome? In the next paragraph is the full set of sermon notes that you can use to study this for yourselves.
Spiritually Injured
Various Scriptures
September 18, 19, 2010
By Victor Cooper
I. Jonah
A. What The Lord said. Jonah 1: 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
B. Why he was injured. Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, was Israel’s most hated enemy. Jonah figured the Lord was more interested in their destruction than their deliverance.
C. How Jonah responded. V3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa…
` D. The Lord’s reply. V4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. v17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
E. What Jonah learned. 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
1. God forgave repentant Jonah,
and
2. God forgave repentant Nineveh.
F. How Jonah grew through the experience. 4:9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
1. He did not so far as we know recover from the injury.
a. In this verse he actually smart mouths God!
II. Elijah
A. What The Lord said. 1 Kings 19: 11,12 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
B. Why he was injured. To Elijah, a still small voice was not the same powerful God that consumed the prophets of Baal and that he needed to deliver him from the threats of Jezebel.
C. How Elijah responded.
1. He had already ran to hide in the wilderness.
2. He tells God in V 14 I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
D. The Lord’s reply. V15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
E. What Elijah learned. V18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
III. Peter
A. What The Lord said. Luke 22:31-34 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
B. Why he was injured. Jesus told Peter he was not as loyal as he thought he was and that his faith was weak.
C. How Peter responded. Matthew 26:69- 72 Now Peter sat ` without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
D. The Lord’s reply. Luke 22:61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
E. What Peter learned. —Smith's Bible Dictionary The time and manner of the apostle's martyrdom are less certain. According to the early writers, he suffered at or about the same time with Paul, and in the Neronian persecution, a.d. 67, 68. All agree that he was crucified. Origen says that Peter felt himself to be unworthy to be put to death in the same manner as his Master, and was therefore, at his own request, crucified with his head downward.
Conclusion: Have you suffered a spiritual injury due to something the Lord has told you? Remember, the Lord never sets out to hurt or injure you, but to help you and to use you in service for Him. Even though you might not understand, believe what He tells you and obey His words. You’ll be the better for it!
I hope the sermon notes are a blessing to you and that they help with your Christian walk. Remember, if you ever have any questions or comments, I’m as close as your keyboard or phone. I do so love hearing from you.
Last week I talked about the St. John’s River in Florida and how it ran backward. I told you there was another that did the exact same thing. The answer is The Nile River in Egypt; it also flows backward. Many things to my good friend Michelle in Illinois who went to the time and effort to give me a list of several rivers that follow a weird course. Thanks Michelle and Randy!
Have a really great week and stay safe and healthy. I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic.
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