1. Nelson Chapel
Church of Christ

2. God Pursues Man Jonah Go to Nineveh – preach to them
Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish
“Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17

3. Why man tries to escape God does not want us to flee
Guilt – afraid - Adam and Eve
Sin – love of – Prodigal son
Duty – escape - Jonah
God does not want us to flee

4. God Pursues Jonah Tried to flee to Tarshish Adam and Eve - Gen. 3:9
Cain – Gen. 4:9
Hagar – Gen. 16
Samuel – 1 Sam. 3
Saul of Tarsus – Acts 22
Jonah
Tried to flee to Tarshish
Belly of the whale

5. God Pursues Luke 14:23 “Go out into the highways….”
Mark 1:17 “Come ye after me….”
Jn. 12: “He that believeth on me”
1 Jn. 4:9-10 “God sent his only begotten”
Rom. 5:8 “God commendeth his love”

6. Why does God Pursue ? Not… But that He may… to punish Save us
prove power
But that He may…
Save us
Use us
Comfort us
Lk.19:10
Jn.6:40
2 Sam.12
Jonah – Samuel - Saul
Matt. 11: Mt.5:4

7. God’s Method of Pursuit
“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” Heb. 1:2

8. God’s Method of Pursuit
Adam – Gen. 3:9 “Lord called unto Adam”
Cain – Gen. 4:6 “And the Lord said unto Cain…”
Jonah – Jonah 1:1 “Now the word of the..”
Jn. 17:17 “thy word is truth”
2 Tim. 3: “inspiration of God”
Mark 16:15 “preach the gospel”

9. God’s Method of Pursuit
Love and Mercy
John 3:16 “God so loved the world”
Rom. 2:4 “goodness of God”
2 Pet. 3:9 “all should come to repentance”

10. God’s Method of Pursuit
Adversity
Jonah
Cast into Sea - Whale – 3 days
Jonah 2:2 “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.”
Trouble – Distress - Adversity

11. God’s Method of Pursuit
Adversity
Romans 8:35-37
Who shall separate us…?
Tribulation, distress, persecution….
For thy sake we are….
We are more than conquerors

12. God Pursues Man Foolish to flee - cannot escape Psalms 139:7-12
Where can I flee from your presence?
You are there !
Psalms 16:1 “in thee do I put my trust”

13. God Pursues Man
Isa. 55:6 “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.
Jer. 29:13 “and ye shall seek me, and find me”
Matt.7:7-8 Ask = given Seek = find
Knock = opened

14. God Pursues Man
Man must do his part !

16. Nelson Chapel Church of Christ
5039 Six Mile Road
Maryville, Tn
April 2, 2017
Sermon by Arthur Pigman
2705 Druid Hill Dr.
Maryville, Tn