1. Causes of Hotheadedness? (Jonah 4:1-4) – “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?”

Jonah had an ATTITUDE – a bad one! His wrong thinking led to his wrong praying!! Here is a great danger…. Are you thinking wrongly? Praying wrongly?

2. Cures of Hotheadedness? (Jonah 4:5-11) – “So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.”

Have you ever had a PITY PARTY? Jonah did. Watch out!

Conclusion: Read the end of the story…

“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. Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that can not discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?”

Introduction: Have you given your all to Jesus? Why should you give your all to Jesus? How can you give your all to Jesus?

This great passage in Jude gives us decisive steps to giving our all to Jesus. In fact, this will even explain both why and how we should. So how can we?

1. By BUILDING UP our PRAYER life with STRONGER FAITH because of these days of APOSTASY! (Jude 1:3,4,20) – “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.”

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

Prayer and faith go hand in hand. Without faith, prayer is useless. Without prayer, faith is ineffective. Both are joined together; and when joined they make an unbeatable combination. 

2. By STAYING SWEET with the LOVE of JESUS in the LIGHT of His COMING in Power and GLORY! (Jude 1:14,21) – “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.”

The love of God poured into our heart sweetens it up! While the world can sprinkle bitterness in our minds – if we let it – God’s great unconditional love smothers with truth and grace. 

3. By RESCUING SINNERS with the Life – line of God’s GRACE because they will PERISH out in ETERNITY! (Jude 1:22,23) – “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

“Pulling them out” is an action word not passive. Are you throwing out the life preserver?

Conclusion: Will you give your all to Jesus? If we do, then we will be strengthened in our faith, sweetened in our relationships, and steadfast in our witness.

Introduction: What’s left on God’s calendar? Where are we headed? With absolute assurance, we can know that we are eventually going to go thru these 4 stages. Let’s take a look at the book.

1. Phase 1 (2Thess 2:1) – “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.”

This first phase includes the rapture. The phrase “our gathering together with him” speaks of that truth. Are you ready for the right rapture?

2. Phase 2 (2Thess 2:2,3) – “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”

Their next phase includes the “falling away,” which may be both spiritually and politically. Certainly, we can see the “signs of the times” today. Are you preparing to do battle against the enemy right now?

3. Phase 3 (2Thess 2:4-7) – “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”

This third phase includes the “restrainer” holding back the floods of the gates of hell coming upon the world. After the Church is taken then the Antichrist will emerge. He’s mentioned in Dan 7 – “little horn,” in Rev 13 – as “the beast” – and here as the “man of sin.” According to Revelation 6, this Political rule and economical genius will be riding on a white horse coming to conquer and desiring to be worshipped; plus he will make war with the saints. Can you see this stage being set?

4. Phase 4 (2Thess 2:8-11) – “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”

Jesus Christ is allowing Satan and the Antichrist to have their run as it were right now. However, all of this will come to a screeching halt when Christ comes in His second coming.

Introduction: Are you facing an insurmountable mountain? News flash: It is a mole hill to the Lord! Big challenges or impossibilities to us pale in comparison to our great God’s infinite power. What obstacles are intimidating you? Remember. Jesus talked about little faith, no faith, and great faith. Which describes you and me? Admittedly, at different times, probably all three.

I love the text in 2 Kings 3.

1. The setting! – Ahab the wicked king died. Jehoram his son reigned after him, although wicked not to the degree of Ahab. The Moabites heard the news and attacked Israel. So deathly afraid, king of the north Jehoram sought out to make an alliance with the king of the south (Judah) Jehoshaphat. After deciding to make war with Moabites (land of Jordan) they traveled thru Edom (Jordan); however, it was during a terrible drought. With much cattle to water and no rain the king Jehoshaphat asked for a prophet (Elisha) to get a word from God {ALWAYS a GOOD IDEA}!

2. The answer from God thru Elisha for the need for water! (2Kings 3:16-17) – “And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.”

Did you catch that? They were to act by FAITH {Heb 11:6} and dig a DITCH! Why? In order for the water – which they didn’t have – to fill up. With no rain in the forecast and desert conditions, God wanted them to know and us today this…..

“And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD:” (2 Kings 3:18).

3. Can God be trusted? (2Kings 3:18) – “And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.”

Wow! The Lord is faithful to His Word!!

1. One foundation! (1Cor 3:10,11) – “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

By the way, the other foundation is sinking sand (Matt 7). Once the storm hits, it will be tested. But even thru the winds, if it’s built upon the rock it will stand!

2. Tried by the fire! (1Cor 3:12-14; 2Cor 5:10) – “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

Get your fire suit on! Jesus Christ’s fiery eyes (Rev 1) will test our works.

3. Rewarded by Jesus! (1 Cor 3:14,15) – “If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

Thank God for rewards for the life well lived!

Introduction: As a CHRISTIAN are you ready to stand before the Lord and be judged? Mind you, not to determine whether you go to heaven or hell but rather to be held accountable by how you used the gifts Jesus Christ has given you. After all, every believer has been imparted at least one spiritual gift to be used to serve our Lord (Rom 12:4-15). In this passage please notice the three different judges we face (1Cor 4:1-5).

1. We are Called to be ministers – servants! (1Cor 4:1) – “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.”

The word “ministers” is ὑπηρέτης : (hoop-ay-ret’-ace): it can mean an underling, a servant, or an attendant. It also can have to do with an officer, an attendant in a synagogue, or more specifically a minister of the gospel.

2. We are called to be Stewards! (1Cor 4:1,2) – “……and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

The word “Stewards” is οἰκονόμος: (oy-kon-om’-os). It literally means the manager of a household or guardian. In other words, every Christian has been given the responsibility to be a “steward” of the gospel. How are you doing?

3. We are being judged by others and ourselves, but also we will be judged by Jesus! (1Cor 4:3,4,5) – “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.”

Paul is saying that he recognizes that others will judge him. “For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord” (1Cor 4:4).

But he is also reminding believers then and now that Jesus Christ is the ultimate Judge! The word “Judged” is ἀνακρίνω: (an-ak-ree’-no), which means to examine, or to investigate. 

“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1Cor 4:5).

When Jesus will Judge us (at the Bema – Judgement Seat), He will test our motives. The word “Counsel” βουλή,(boo-lay’), can mean examine or deliberate wisdom.

Bottom line: Jesus knows us!

Introduction: Fight your fear. Feed your faith. It is a battle, isn’t it? Perhaps right now you are going thru a time of fear, insecurity, or anxiety. What can you do? How should you respond? Is this the norm?

1. Jesus Christ confronted fear in His followers, by saying numerous times “FEAR NOT” (Mark 4; Matt 8:26; Luke 8) – “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?”

Here Jesus calls out “little faith”. But elsewhere, He draws attention to “Great faith”!

“Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith” (Matt 15:28).

What would Jesus say about your faith?

3. Isaiah reminds God’s people not to be afraid (Isa 41:10) – “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

What a great Bible verse to meditate on! Take a minute to ponder this thought.

1. Daniel’s Battle! (Dan 10:12-13) – “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”

Daniel is fasting and praying. Remember he is taken to Babylon during the captivity (70 years). His message is to the nation of Israel and the holy city – Jerusalem (Dan 9:24-27).

2. The Prince of Persia withstands! (Dan 10:14) – “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days:”

Whoever this “Prince of Persia” is there is no doubt he represents an evil entity that withstands believers. The words “understand” and “chasten” have to do with Daniel’s humility and discernment.

The word “understand” is בִּין: (bene), which means to discern. The word “withstand” is עָמַד: (aw-mad’). It means to take one’s stand.

Bottom line: This satanic personality “stood against” Daniel and his God. However, the preceding verses reveal that God overruled these forces. Micheal was dispatched to help. “Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days” (Dan 10:14). After conflict comes confirmation.