WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN YOUR EXPECTATIONS DOESNT HAPPEN?

Jonah 4:1-11
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the LORD, and said, Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore, I fled previously to Tar shish; for I know that Youare a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness, One who relents from doing harm. 3 Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live! 4 Then the LORD said, Is it right for you to be angry? 5 So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. 6 And the LORD God prepared a plant[a] and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. 7 But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. 8 And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonahs head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. 9 Then God said to Jonah, Is it right for you to be angry about the plant? And he said, It is right for me to be angry, even to death! 10 But the LORD said, You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their leftand much livestock?

Introduction: Do you have expectations in life? Does your expectationhappen? What will you do when your expectations doesnt happen? God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but instead he went to Tar shish and paid a great price of his disobedience to the Lord. He was thrown into the sea, swallowed by a great fish and stayed in the belly for 3 days and 3 nights. Jonah was given a second chance. He went to Nineveh and proclaimed the word of the Lord. Now Jonah had some expectations, he expects that as he does his part, God will do his part as well. But Jonahs expectations did not turn out exactly as he expects them to be. Now, if you were in Jonahs place what will you feel and what will you do? What will you do when your expectations doesnt happen? I. DONT GET MAD ON GOD (v. 1)
1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.

A. What are his expectations of God? 1. That God will do what He says (v. 2)
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So he prayed to the LORD, and said, Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore, I fled previously to Tar shish; for I know that Youare a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness, One who relents from doing harm.

2. That Nineveh will be overthrown (v. 5)

So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. 3. That God will change his character (v. 2) 2 So he prayed to the LORD, and said, Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore, I fled previously to Tar shish; for I know that Youare a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness, One who relents from doing harm.

B. What are his reactions? 1. He forgot that he is the first person guilty of not meeting Gods expectations when he went to Tar shish when God told him to go to Nineveh. (Jonah 1:3)
3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

2. He forgot hes talking to God (v. 2)

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So he prayed to the LORD, and said, Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country?

There was no reverence Example: King Bumibol of Thailand

3. He forgot he was spared by God (2:6)

I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. 3.1 Are your reasons valid? 3.2 Is your reactions right?

II.

DONT BE CONTROLLED BY EMOTION (v. 3)

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Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live! A. Be careful with your prayers (v. 3) 3 Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live! B. Be watchful with your attitude (v. 5) 5 So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. C. Be careful what you wish for (v. 8) 8 And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonahs head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.

Emotion is a friend or a foe It is possible for Christians to be spiritually gifted but emotionally immature.

III.

DONT LOOK THINGS ON HUMAN PERSPECTIVE (v. 9-11)

Then God said to Jonah, Is it right for you to be angry about the plant? And he said, It is right for me to be angry, even to death! 10 But the LORD said, You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their leftand much livestock? A. Dont ignore Gods ways (v6-8) 1. God prepared a plant (v. 6) 6 And the LORD God prepared a plant[a] and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. 2. God prepared a worm (v. 7) 7 But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. 3. God prepared a vehement east wind (v. 8) 8 And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonahs head, so that he grew faint. B. Dont misplace your faith (v. 6) 6 And the LORD God prepared a plant[a] and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. 1. He was thankful for the plant, but not to God 2. Look for the provider not the provisions 3. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. C. Dont miss Gods lesson 1. That God is a merciful God and he relents from sending calamities 2. That God value life more than anything else. 3. That God should be obeyed no matter what.
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CONCLUSION: 4 Then the LORD said, Is it right for you to be angry? When things doesnt happen as we want them to be, do we have the right to be mad at God? The answer is No. Remember when our expectations doesnt happen, God may have something better in mind, He is up to something for our betterment.