Pastoral Letter 199

Dear Members of St. Andrew’s Uniting Church, Friends and Adherents,

Grace and peace to you all.

We are already in the third week of the month of January and soon we will commence the Lent season, starting with Ash Wednesday in early February, which will lead us to Passion week and Easter, when we will celebrate the victorious resurrection of Christ from the death.

After our celebration on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the laying the foundation of our Sanctuary and the 121st Anniversary of commencing worship services on the church promises on 10 September 2023, 3 February marks the 100th Anniversary of the official opening of the church building. Hence, we are planning a special Worship Service marking this important milestone in the history of St. Andrew’s Church. The Service will be held on Sunday 4 February 2024 at 9:30 am. We have sent out the invitations to church leaders, local councillors, friends and guests and glad that some will join us. Please plan and make an extra effort to be with us at this Service and let us praise God and thank Him for all the blessings He has provided to us and to our church over the years.

We have committed to continue our ministry here at St. Andrew’s by God’s grace and keep the flame of ministry doing the best we can for His glory. The way ahead is not and will not be smooth and easy, but with God’s help we will navigate through the turbulent waters keeping the faith. Let us remind ourselves that God, through His Son, is the head and the Lord of the church, we are just His loyal agents performing the duties He has given. We move forward helping and supporting each other, regardless of all the challenges we face. Just we have to remind ourselves that God is faithful and will take care.

If you are not able to join us tomorrow, please light a candle and join us following the attached Orders of Services.

Please let me know if you or anyone else has prayer points.

Here are some prayer points for this week:

  1. Pray for the New Year and ask God to be with us in the year as we move forward.
  2. Pray for the Middle East, as the conflict escalates again between Israel and Palestine.
  3. Pray for the people Artsakh who are refugees in different parts of Armenia facing many challenges.
  4. Pray for the poor, the sick, the struggling and the stressed.
  5. Pray for all those who are affected by natural disasters.
  6. Pray for our church and our future plans as we seek God’s guidance.
  7. Pray for the church of Jesus Christ and the faithful servants who accept the call and serve the Lord.

Best Regards

In Christ

Krikor

MESSAGE

Jonah – The Reluctant Prophet

Jonah 1:1-17

The book of Jonah is one of the books of the section in the Bible called “The Minor Prophets” or “The Book of the 12 Prophets”. This book is unique, because most prophetic books are about the message, while this one is more about the messenger. It is not a historical book, but rather a parable told to teach us a lesson.

In the first few verses we read that God came to Jonah and called him to do a certain mission. God called Jonah and ordered him to get up and go to the city of Nineveh to tell them God’s message. But Jonah was not excited and unwilling to go, because after the Babylonian Exile, there was a spirit of bitterness towards foreigners, and he didn’t want them to turn to God to be saved.

Also, they were part of the Assyria, who were enemies of the Israelites, and they were not a friendly people. Hence, Jonah was reluctant to go and to do his task that God gave him.

As the story progresses, we see that Jonah finally obeyed to the command of the Lord, but grudgingly and was not happy to see the redemption of the people of Nineveh. The people turned from their evil ways and believed. God had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened to do. They had a change of mind and a change of action. Then the unexpected happened.

The lesson we learn is that we are like Jonah.

When God calls, do we go willingly or grudgingly?

Usually, people try to run away from God, thinking that He is asking them to do something too hard, scary and unpleasant. They ignore God and His voice. That was the attitude of Jonah, who was supposed to be the man of God.

Jonah was the only prophet known to attempt to run away from a divinely appointed mission. When God called Jonah to go to Nineveh, the magnificent capital of the Assyrian Empire, home to more than 120,000 people, and preach against their wickedness, Jonah did not want to go. He decided to flee from God. He boarded a ship heading to Tarshish, which was in the opposite direction of Nineveh. He thought he could escape God’s presence and His will.

But he was wrong. God saw him and pursued him. God sent a great storm on the sea, which threatened to destroy the ship and everyone on board. The sailors threw him overboard, but God prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah, who spent three days and three nights in its belly. God heard Jonah’s prayer and commanded the fish to vomit him out on dry land. God gave Jonah a second chance to obey Him and go to Nineveh.

As we said earlier Jonah’s story is a story of God’s sovereignty, grace, and compassion. It is also a story of human rebellion, stubbornness, and prejudice. It is a story that teaches us about ourselves and about God. It is a story that tells about the pattern of the human’s descent, going down. It is interesting the use of the expression “he went down” at least four times, in stages.

1. Jonah went down to Joppa

Firstly, he departed from God’s will to do his own.  God asked him to go to Nineveh, but he went down to Joppa, which was a port city on the Mediterranean coast. There he found a ship going to Tarshish, which was probably a city in Spain. He paid the fare and went on board. He thought he can run away from God by changing his location. He thought he can avoid God’s call by going to a place where God is not known or worshiped. He thought he can find peace and happiness by following his own desires.

But he was mistaken. God is everywhere, and He sees everything. God’s call is not based on our preferences or feelings, but on His purposes and plans. God’s peace and happiness are not found in our circumstances or choices, but in His presence and obedience. His first step down, lead him away from God’s blessing and into trouble.

2. He went aboard down into the ship.

Secondly, he went down into the ship, which is a place of isolation and separation. He left behind his people, his land, his culture, and his heritage. He joined a group of strangers, who have different beliefs, values, customs, and languages. He entered a foreign environment, which is unfamiliar, unpredictable and dangerous.

Jonah thought he can run away from God by changing his association. He thought he can avoid God’s call by going to a place where God is not relevant or respected. He thought he can find security and comfort by following his own interests.

But he was mistaken. God is not limited by our associations, but He works through them. God’s call is not dependent on our background or identity, but on His grace and power. God’s security and comfort are not found in our isolation or separation, but in our connection and involvement.

3. He went down to the inner part of the ship

Thirdly, he went down to the inner part of the ship, which is a place of darkness and sleep. He hid himself from the sight and sound of the storm that God has sent on the sea. He ignored the danger and distress that he has caused to the sailors and himself. He fell asleep in a false sense of security and peace.

Jonah thought he can run away from God by changing his view. He thought he can avoid God’s call by going to a place where God is not seen or heard.

But he was mistaken. God is not affected by our views, but He affects them. God’s call is not silenced by our ignorance or indifference, but it confronts them. God’s rest and relief are not found in our sleep or dreams, but in His wakefulness and reality.

4. He went down to the depths of the sea (inside the fish)

Fourthly, he went down to the depths of the sea, which is a place of death and judgment. He was swallowed by a great fish that God has prepared for him. He was trapped in a dark, wet, and smelly belly, with no hope of rescue.

Jonah thought he has run away from God by changing his condition. He thought he has avoided God’s call by going to a place where God is not able to or willing to save him. He thought he has found the end of his misery by following his own way.

But he was mistaken. Our condition does not restrict God, but He can change it. Our failure or sin does not cancel God’s call. It can be restored. God’s mercy is not exhausted by our rebellion or stubbornness, but it can be renewed.

Jonah’s fourth step down lead him to the lowest point of his life, but also to the turning point of his story.

Jonah’s story shows us that running away from God is a downward journey that leads us away from His blessing, His world, His reality and His mercy. It also shows us that turning back to God is an upward journey that leads us to His grace, His compassion, His sovereignty, and His purpose.

Jonah finally turned back to God in the belly of the fish. There he prayed a prayer of confession, thanksgiving and surrender. He acknowledged his sin and foolishness. He praised God for His salvation and deliverance. He vowed to obey God and fulfill His vow.

God heard Jonah’s prayer and commanded the fish to vomit him out on dry land. God gave Jonah a second chance to obey Him and go to Nineveh. Jonah obeyed God and preached His message to Nineveh. Nineveh repented and believed in God. God spared Nineveh and showed His mercy and compassion.

Jonah’s story is not only about him, but also about us. We are like Jonah in many ways. We also try to run away from God at some point in our lives. We have also gone down in our disobedience and rebellion. We have also needed God’s grace and compassion.

But Jonah’s story is also about the disciples of Jesus, who were better than Jonah. They had their own businesses and responsibilities but left everything and obeyed His command. When He called them to follow Him, they immediately left and followed Him. They also went down in their obedience and love. They went down and out from somehow well lived lives. They went down from certainty to uncertainty. They went down from life to death, following His example. Some of them were even ready to die for Him.

But they also went up in the power of the Spirit, to go out and preach the good news of Christ. They were ready to sacrifice their lives for Him and to become examples of committed followers of Christ.

The disciples were better than Jonah, in the sense that they did not run away from God; but ran to Him, by going out and serving to the people. They did not flee from their mission; but fulfilled it. They became His living witnesses. They did not resent God’s mercy; but rejoiced in it, as they were ready, even to give their life for Christ.

Jesus invites us to follow Him and to share His message. He invites us to go up with Him and to go out for Him. He invites us to experience His grace and compassion.

He invites us to join His purpose and plan.

Don’t be like Jonah, the reluctant prophet, who went down in his disobedience and rebellion. Be like the disciples, who went down in their obedience, willing to leave everything, including their families and follow Him, regardless of their weaknesses. In love and commitment, they followed Jesus and went out for Him.

Don’t go down. Go up. Go out. Go for God.

Amen!