Not Just for You | Sunday Message (Pastor Jonathan Laurie)

12 snips

Jul 13, 2025

Pastor Jonathan Laurie delves into the tale of Jonah, a reluctant prophet, exploring how God uses challenging circumstances to bring us back to Him. The discussion highlights Jonah's dark moments and prayer, reminding us that God sees us even in our lowest states. Insights from a biker church reveal the raw authenticity of faith and the dangers of hypocrisy. The importance of intentional invitations to share faith is emphasized, alongside Jesus being portrayed as the 'greater Jonah,' offering hope and transformation through obedience and repentance.

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ANECDOTE

Biker Church Conviction

Jonathan Laurie describes visiting a biker church where outward appearance hid deep spiritual transformation.
He confesses his own hypocrisy and urges not to judge by appearance.

INSIGHT

The Reluctant Prophet's Bias

Jonah was a prophet who ran from God's call because he feared God would show mercy to enemies.
Jonathan highlights Jonah's hypocrisy in wanting forgiveness for himself but not for others.

ADVICE

See Storms As Redirects

Recognize storms may be self-inflicted or allowed by God to redirect you, not to punish.
Use hardship as an opportunity to return to God rather than assume divine punishment.

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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.

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