Pastor Jonathan Laurie shares lessons from the story of Jonah, a reluctant evangelist who ran from God’s calling.

Notes:

Focus verse - Jonah 2

Matthew 23:25–27 (NKJV)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.
 
“Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
 
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”
 
Jonah 4:3 (NLT)
“Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” 
 
#1 God Appoints Circumstances to Bring Us Back
 
Sometimes we think God is punishing us.
 
God paid Jesus back for our sin.
 
Jonah was a historical, biblical character.
2 Kings 14:25
 
Matthew 12:40 (NKJV)
“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
 
God appoints circumstances and storms.
Not to pay us back, but to bring us back.
 
#2 God Still Sees in the Dark
Jonah 2:1 (NLT)
 
Read: Jonah 2:1–9 (NLT)
 
While Jonah sat in darkness inside the great fish, he prayed.
God heard and delivered Jonah out of his fishy prison.
 
Psalm 139:11–12 (NLT)
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
 
Israel worshipped one God — the true Creator.
 
Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
 
Read: Jonah 2:10 –3:5 (NKJV)
 
#3 Saved From and Saved For
 
God rescued Jonah from darkness so Jonah could reach others in darkness.
 
2 Corinthians 5:18–20 (NLT)
 
Mark 16:15–16 (NLT)
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
   
Romans 10:14 (NLT)
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

Learn more about this year's Harvest Crusade!

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Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org.

This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners. 

Pastor Jonathan Laurie shares lessons from the story of Jonah, a reluctant evangelist who ran from God&rsquo;s calling.
Notes:
Focus verse - Jonah 2
Matthew 23:25&ndash;27 (NKJV) &ldquo;Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. &nbsp; &ldquo;Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. &nbsp; &ldquo;Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men&rsquo;s bones and all uncleanness.&rdquo; &nbsp; Jonah 4:3 (NLT) &ldquo;Just kill me now, Lord! I&rsquo;d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.&rdquo;&nbsp; &nbsp; #1 God Appoints Circumstances to Bring Us Back &nbsp; Sometimes we think God is punishing us. &nbsp; God paid Jesus back for our sin. &nbsp; Jonah was a historical, biblical character. 2 Kings 14:25 &nbsp; Matthew 12:40 (NKJV) &ldquo;For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.&rdquo; &nbsp; God appoints circumstances and storms. Not to pay us back, but to bring us back. &nbsp; #2 God Still Sees in the Dark Jonah 2:1 (NLT) &nbsp; Read: Jonah 2:1&ndash;9 (NLT) &nbsp; While Jonah sat in darkness inside the great fish, he prayed. God heard and delivered Jonah out of his fishy prison. &nbsp; Psalm 139:11&ndash;12 (NLT) I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night&mdash; but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. &nbsp; Israel worshipped one God &mdash; the true Creator. &nbsp; Romans 12:1 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. &nbsp; Read: Jonah 2:10 &ndash;3:5 (NKJV) &nbsp; #3 Saved From and Saved For &nbsp; God rescued Jonah from darkness so Jonah could reach others in darkness. &nbsp; 2 Corinthians 5:18&ndash;20 (NLT) &nbsp; Mark 16:15&ndash;16 (NLT) And then he told them, &ldquo;Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Romans 10:14 (NLT) But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-crusade-2025/?utm_source=ANB&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=SoCal2025">Learn more about this year's Harvest Crusade!</a>
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Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at <a href="https://harvest.org/">harvest.org</a>.
This podcast is supported by the generosity of our <a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/">Harvest Partners.</a>&nbsp;

Greg Laurie delivers clear, Bible-based teaching on topics all Christians face—from marriage and family to evangelism and purpose—while emphasizing the saving power of the gospel. With humor and cultural insight, he shows how to apply God’s Word in everyday life and strengthen your walk with Christ.

He is the senior pastor of Harvest Church, with campuses located in California and Hawaii, a renowned evangelist, bestselling author, and inspiration for the 2023 “Jesus Revolution” film. He is also the founder and leader of Harvest Crusades, large-scale evangelistic events that share the gospel with thousands in stadiums worldwide. Learn more about Pastor Greg’s and Harvest Ministries’ mission to know God and make Him known at harvest.org.

Greg Laurie delivers clear, Bible-based teaching on topics all Christians face&mdash;from marriage and family to evangelism and purpose&mdash;while emphasizing the saving power of the gospel. With humor and cultural insight, he shows how to apply God&rsquo;s Word in everyday life and strengthen your walk with Christ.
He is the senior pastor of Harvest Church, with campuses located in California and Hawaii, a renowned evangelist, bestselling author, and inspiration for the 2023 &ldquo;Jesus Revolution&rdquo; film. He is also the founder and leader of Harvest Crusades, large-scale evangelistic events that share the gospel with thousands in stadiums worldwide. Learn more about Pastor Greg&rsquo;s and Harvest Ministries&rsquo; mission to know God and make Him known at <a href="https://harvest.org/">harvest.org</a>.

Greg Laurie delivers clear, Bible-based teaching on topics all Christians face.