God is in charge

*Recap of*

*Be Inspired Intercessory Prayer and Testimony*

*Tuesday 21st May 2019*

*By Sister Leah Adepeju*

*Topic:* God is in charge

*Text:* Jonah 1:1-3, 2:1-2,10, 3:1-5, 4:1-11

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 down to 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 .

Jonah 1:1‭-‬3 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/jon.1.1-3.KJV

Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly,  And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord , and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.  And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Jonah 2:1‭-‬2‭, ‬10 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/jon.2.1-10.KJV

And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying,  Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.  So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord . Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.  And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.  So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.  And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Jonah 3:1‭-‬5‭, ‬10 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/jon.3.1-10.KJV
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.  And he prayed unto the Lord , and said, I pray thee, O Lord , was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.  Therefore now, O Lord , take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.  Then said the Lord , Doest thou well to be angry?  So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.  And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.  But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.  And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.  And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.  Then said the Lord , Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:  And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

Jonah 4:1‭-‬11 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/jon.4.1-11.KJV

The topic  for exhortation this evening says *God is in charge.*
Many of us are aware of the story of Jonah.. even an unbeliever will be able to tell you that Jonah was swallowed up by a big fish.🎏😃
In chapter one of the book of Jonah, we were introduced to this prophet whom God gave a message to Nineveh and deliver it to them.

When Jonah got the message instead of going to Nineveh he headed to Tarshish. On his way he ended up in the belly of a big fish after some turbulence at sea when his fellow commuters were begged by Jonah that he should be thrust into the sea.

In chapter 2 Jonah called on God and he was delivered and, guess what, the fish transported him close to Nineveh.

In chapter 3 Jonah got to Nineveh and delivered the message the Lord sent him to the people, then the people of Nineveh cried out to God in repentance and God had mercy on them and averted all wrath against them.
Fast forward to chapter 4 Jonah vexed. The man vexed, he was upset that on top of all the ups and downs he put himself through to finally deliver the message to the people of Nineveh God forgave them and all those negative prophecies did not come to fruition.

In verse one of chapter 4 it says Jonah was displeased exceedingly and was very angry and was questioning God, Was this not what you sent me here to tell them? How come it didn't happen?

Jonah vexed, boy🤐🥺😠😡 He asked that God should take  his life, he didn't feel it seem to live since the prophecy didn't come to pass.

He sat down angrily waiting for God to cause something to kill him. Instead God  delivered him from his grief. He was glad that happened and God prepared worms to eat up all the gourd the next day.

Then the east wind blew and beat upon his head that he fainted..

He still wished to die.
Then God pointed to him that you are concerned about the gourd you didn't labour for which came overnight and perished overnight.
Then God said that concerned you so much yet you want me to perish the whole of Nineveh even after their repentance, they couldn't discern between right or wrong but after the prophecy they traced their step back.
Hmm! God is in charge.
As it is often said, if men were to be God they will never allow the rain to fall.
Remember the God we serve is the one who allows rain to fall on the godly as well as the ungodly.
The Bible says in John 3:16 that God loves the world,  that is, everyone of us; no one is less loved than the other.
That is the reason He came in the form of man so He can go through what He went through so that we will not end up in life in eternity with damnation.

Looking at Jonah here, he believed that as the prophet he was in charge and what He has said must come to pass.
Well? I wouldn't blame Jonah. Had it been God wiped Him off the face of earth while he fell into the tummy of the big fish he would not even have life to get angry against the will of God.
At times in life some negative prophecies come forth but God is the one who can change every prophecy even before the prophet begins to say it.

God is the controller of time and season.
Sometime we encounter some leader of religion who probably has been used to give prophecy and they just stand hell-bent that it must happen and when it doesn't they feel as disappointed as Jonah was.
If you are a prophet and God changed a prophecy I believe what is right is to follow the lead because God is the ultimate controller.
If He says it will rain and decide to cause the sun to shine you cannot stop Him.
He is the one that says I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.
God decided to allow mercy to speak in place of judgement over Nineveh.

Do you know that there are still people like Jonah?
Even though they seem genuine and give the prophecy, they just want to watch you suffer.
But I decree henceforth mercy will speak in place of judgement in Jesus name.
I decree every power crying for justice even over your known sin and short coming today God will silence them in Jesus name.
There are families whereby the people who sinned are dead and gone but judgment is crying over the generation that knows nothing about the sin committed.
That is when you will see people in the family dying at unripe age.
Or been stricken with incurable diseases.
Or maybe fruitless labour because there is a judgment attached to that family but, except you know about it, how can you confess your deliverance?

Today I want you to say:

*I am free henceforth from every power or generational curse demanding my downfall or stagnation, fruitlessness, journeying in a circle, lack of favour e.t.c in Jesus mighty name.*

The people of Nineveh were not aware of Jonah throwing a fit over them not suffering.
Some of them might probably pray for the prophet that came to warn them not knowing that this same prophet was questioning the authority of God.
I decree those who hold a high position or authority over you and I that are stabbing us in the back spiritually, physically, financially or any aspect of life we gain victory over them all in Jesus name.
Some people are worshiping under Jonah, it might not necessarily be church it could be anywhere, it could be a friend, colleague, a neighbour whoever that you look at and you are like, thank God for B or A if not for them, hmm, where would I be?
Please re-phrase such because it is only God who can change any situation or cause any man to work for your favour because He is in charge.
Jonah forgot that God was in charge. This is the same person whom God delivered from the big fish. Not only that, He created shade for Him yet he was vexing against the people God preserved.

Say: *Father open my eyes to see situations where I have neglected your authority and help me to let go to you entirely so I will not delay your plan in my life in Jesus name.*
I am not sure but after the book of Jonah I do not think we heard more about Jonah.
Can I just remind you, the fact that someone paid you back negatively doesn't mean you pray a prayer for God to destroy them.
He is the God who can avenge in the right manner, you cannot help God in making decisions - He is never indecisive.
Remember God is not a man to lie nor the son of man to repent.
So whatever it is you and I do, we must learn to allow Him to take charge as much as possible.
Don't say I will do this or that except the grace is made available, it is impossible trying just by the power of man.

Are you a Jonah in anyone's life?
Are you the Jonah over your situation?
You can never equal your power to the One who is unlimited in all power.
You must be ready to always submit to the lordship of God almighty through our Lord Jesus Christ.

One thing I want us to look into: what would Jonah gain if the whole of the people of Nineveh died?
Absolutely nothing.
He would probably get the satisfaction of yes, the prophecy came to pass, I  said it and it happened.
At that point he would have taken the glory that belonged to God but the Bible let us know that God will never share His glory with any man.
He remains the indescribable God.

If you take nothing from this message this evening please take it into your consciousness, subconscious and unconscious state that *God is in charge.*

So I want to say to that person even though you have been told it is irreversible God is reversing it now in Jesus name.
Even though it has been said that nothing can change what has been written it is already signed and sealed but the one who changed the heart of kings and princes is causing a divine change right now in Jesus name.

Say: *My case is exceptional because God is in charge.*

The Psalmist says:

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

Psalms 3:6 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.3.6.KJV

This is because God almighty is my shield, my glory and the lifter up of my head.

Lord I thank you for the word today.
Mighty father I worship you for the life of the vessel used for the word this day. I ask for fresh unction over her in Jesus name.
Lord have mercy on me in any way I have tried to stay in charge when it is clear that you are in charge.
Lord I release (mention), take your place and have your way in Jesus name.
Father reveal to me every attribute of Jonah I am surrounded with or that I possess and grant me the grace to overcome in Jesus name.

*Personal Prayer.*

Thank you father for answered prayers in Jesus name.