Who is in your Ship? Jesus or Jonah
Mark 4:36-39
And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Jonah 1:1-4,12,15
Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord,and went downto Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 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. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
Introduction: In the journey of life, there will be storms whether you are a Christian or not.
Jesus confirmed this truth in Luke 6:46-49 (NLT)
“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?
I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.
🛑 ” The “Ship” you enter in the journey of your life is a determinant factor of your end. Who is with you in that “Ship” of life will determine your destiny.
From our texts, it’s either you have Jesus or Jonah in your Ship as you sail in the Ship of your life.
▶️ Company with JESUS is association with the Creator
▶️ Company with JONAH is association without the Creator
Let us look at Six SHIP we enter at every point in our life. There will be:-
1️⃣. RELATIONSHIP – Connections or associations, romantic or sexual involvement
In your relationship, that is connection or association or romantic or sexual involvement, who is involved? Jesus or Jonah
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NLT) Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?
What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the lord Almighty.”
2️⃣. FELLOWSHIP– Company of people that share the same interest or aim.
That your fellowship, where you share interests and aims, like old school, village or towns meeting, or trade.
❓Who has prominence? Jesus or Jonah
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
Please note, any fellowship without Jesus shall be broken into pieces.
Isaiah 8:9-10 Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. [10] Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
3️⃣. PARTNERSHIP – Association of two or more people to conduct a business.
Who is your partner in business? Is it JESUS or JONAH that is in that Ship?
▶️ God warned children of Israel in Exodus 34:12 “Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped.
See what happened to the business of Jehoshaphat who was adjudged righteous in 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 Some time later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who was very wicked. Together they built a fleet of trading ships at the port of Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, “Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the lord will destroy your work.” So the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea.
4️⃣. COURTSHIP – The act of wooing in love; solicitation or proposal of woman to marriage
In wooing or soliciting for someone to marry, is it JESUS or JONAH that is allowed in the Ship?
Hear God’s word to His chosen ones in
Deuteronomy 7:1-4. “When the lord your God brings you into the land you are about to enter and occupy, he will clear away many nations ahead of you: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. These seven nations are greater and more numerous than you. When the lord your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy.
You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the lord will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you.
Worldly marriage proposal can terminate destiny of the chosen as seen in the life of Samson.
Judges 14:1-3(NLT) One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye. When he returned home, he told his father and mother, “A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me.” His father and mother objected. “Isn’t there even one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry?” they asked. “Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?”But Samson told his father, “Get her for me! She looks good to me.”
5️⃣. COMPANIONSHIP– Is the act of keeping company with anyone.
Who is always accompanying you in the Ship of your life? In whose company can you be found? JESUS or JONAH?
1 Corinthians 15:33 says; “bad company corrupts good character.”
Hear the word of wisdom from Solomon in Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
❓Who is a fool? Psalms 14:1 Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!
In short, a fool is anyone without Jesus. John 3:36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”
6️⃣. FRIENDSHIP– Is the state of attachment to a person or persons, arising from mutual affection.
❓What kinds of friends are you keeping? Are your friends worldly? Is it JESUS or JONAH that can be found in your Ship of friends as you journey in life?
Hear authoritatively what bible says in James 4:4(NLT) You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.
David said in Psalms 119:63 I am a friend to anyone who fears you— anyone who obeys your commandments.
Conclusion: As you journey in this life towards eternity, who do you carry along in your Ship? Jesus or Jonah?
If you carry Jesus; there will be Peace, storms will be stilled, and there will be a great calm. But if you carry Jonah; you are without God, therefore you will go down and pay dearly for it.
Paul wrote to Christians at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 5:11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.
John the beloved wrote in 2 John 1:10 If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement.
✋ Maranatha
