There is a book in the Bible about a man named Jonah; the book carries the same name. In the book we read about a journey Jonah took to avoid doing what God told him to do. He was fleeing from the presence of the Lord. His method of travel was a ship. There were other people on the ship also on a journey. After setting sail the ship was met by a great tempest (storm). The storm did more than interrupt Jonah’s journey; it interrupted the journey of everyone on the ship. The interruption continued until Jonah left the ship; then the sea ceased (stopped) its raging. We assume the ship then continued safely on its journey.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen (Matthew 28:18-20). God has instructed us to go on a journey. Jonah’s journey was to go and warn a nation that God had issues with their behavior. The nation heard and repented. Jonah didn’t want to go because he knew God would forgive them and he feared he would look stupid. God gave us the message of forgiveness to take to the world. Jesus asks us to go and teach what was taught to you (repent (turn back), receive grace, love, and forgive).

Our journey is not on a ship, but in a stationary building that is not going into the world. There is a need to gather together for edification of the body, but there is a time when we need to go baptize and teach. There are people in the buildings that are also on a journey – they are there to be taught. How many Jonahs do we have in the building staying when they should be going? Is there a tempest in the body because we are not going? I tell you there is a tempest building up in the body that is going to make the storms of the earth look small. There are people in the body who are caught in our storm and their journey is interrupted, and will be until the ones instructed to go leave and go baptize and teach.

Are you looking for sings and wonders; then go baptize and teach! “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature… And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:15, 17-18). If you are waiting for a sign before you go, Jesus gave us one in the tomb. Jesus gave us the sign of Jonah; Jesus was in the tomb for three days and three nights, then He arose from the tomb as a sign of our life with Him.

The people on the ship didn’t want Jonah to leave the ship, but God had a plan. People in the congregation may not want you to go; but God has a plan. There are nations waiting to repent and turn to God. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher (Romans 10:14)? Why do the nations rage? “I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession’” (Psalm 2:7-8). The nations rage because the prophets have not ministered to the nations the true Gospel of Jesus Christ; the world is our journey, and the Gospel is our message. When we turn back to God’s plan, the tempest will cease. If we do not return (turn the hearts of the children) the storms will come.

© 2010, Tim D. Coulter Sr.