Just like earthly parents our heavenly Father doesn’t like a bad attitude.
– Review -Called by God to go to Ninevah – refused
– Ran from God on a boat, thrown over, swallowed by fish
It’s all about revival.
– Bringing people to a relationship with God
– Revive – bring back from the dead – breath life back into that which seems to be lifeless
And today, we are going to see the importance of our attitude in that process
– Now we are in Chapter 2- Jonah still in belly/beast…
And the Q for today is….
What is the right attitude while inside a bad situation?
Attitude determines Altitude
Look at Jonah’s attitude while in his bad situation…
From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the Lord his God..2.1
Inside the belly of the beast, Jonah FOUND the right attitude
The right attitude is Humility
– When you look to God it demonstrates a dependence on God
Attitude is a measure of our faith
“In my distress I called to the Lord…and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. 2.2
Not just dead, but deep into the realm of the dead!
– Jonah was in a dark place!
Being in a dark place can spawn different attitudes
– Darkness can bring an attitude Despair
Having an attitude of despair is the easy option, but…
Darkness can bring an attitude of division
‘I have been banished from your sight; -4
Separate you from your priorities
Separate you from others
– Bitterness – Blaming others – Envious of others
Darkness can bring a new attitude of revival!
Jonah said…
…I have been cast out of Your sight.
But you, Lord my God,
brought my life up from the pit. 2.6
No matter how deep you are…God’s arm is never to short to pull you out
Jonah goes on to say…
But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you. 2.9
Jonah found (2) other revival attitudes…
The Attitude of Praise
The Attitude of Sacrifice
…the Lord commanded the fish and the fish vomited Jonah onto dry land. 2.10
You know you found the right attitude when you giving a sacrifice of praise while lying in a pool of vomit!
Jonah found and developed the right attitudes in his dark place
►The attitude of Humility
►The attitude of Prayer
►The attitude of Praise
►The willingness to Sacrifice
Remember Jonah didn’t have anyone else with him – Alone!
– There are going to be times when you only have yourself to encourage you.
– David knew that feeling quite well
1 Sam David and his men’s camp raided, took wife/children
All the men around David were so distressed they talked of stoning David to death
That’s a dark/painful place and at that moment, even those closest to him, were talking of his demise… 1 Sam 30.6
But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
Many times when you’re in the belly – you are all you got
– Others may try and encourage you, but ultimately it’s our responsibility for our attitude…
But God will never leave us alone in our troubles, Paul said…(2 Cor 1)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles…
God is the source for a constant good attitude.
Easy to have a good attitude when all is well
But what happens when you find yourself in the belly of the beast?
Not only does God comfort us, and bless us when we have the right attitude, He comforts us…
…so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Cor 1.3-4
Your attitude puts a seed in your pocket
Like grandparent looks for candy and $ can only give in a pocket
We are responsible not only for ourselves but also for others,
God gives so that we can give, God blesses so we can bless
God gives mercy so can show mercy
God forgives so we can forgive
I’ll leave you with this challenge from Philippians 2.5-11
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.