ABOUT THE MINISTRY

“I Ain’t Going Over There!”- Jonah

These were basically the words of Jonah, the only prophet called by God, but literally fled his assignment. It wasn’t even that he didn’t understand the assignment. He simply didn’t want to fulfil It.

Jonah was adamant about not going to the place and people that God wanted him to preach to. (Jonah). Some of us can relate to Jonah, but many can’t. 

Before you criticize him though, many of us are just as guilty. We’ve been hurt by some people that we’d rather see executed by the wrath of God before we share with them God’s forgiveness upon repentance. We often have already concluded that they will never change, or that they don’t deserve God’s mercy. 

Maybe it’s that person that caused the death or devastation of your loved one. 

What would you do if God instructed you to tell them of His love and forgiveness to those who call upon Him in repentance and turn from their ways? 

Have you yourself, not experienced the grace and mercy of God? (Romans 5:8). Or, have you forgotten that scripture reminds us, “For all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory?” (Romans 3:23). 

Jonah knew what God’s grace meant, but he did not want his enemies to have the opportunity to experience it. 

Jonah’s disdain for Nineveh led to him 

* rejecting his assignment,

* him risking the safety of others, 

* his own repentance for rebelling, and ultimately

* his redirection to preach and Nineveh’s repentance. 

If you can’t relate to Jonah’s initial reaction, the following verses will help provide a historical account of why Jonah despised Nineveh-Assyrians, so badly that he was willing to watch them suffer the wrath of God! 

2 Kings 15:29

2 Kings 17:5–6

2 Kings 18:9–13

Isaiah 36 and 37:36

Isaiah 10:5–6

Nahum 3:1, 19

Remember, God is gracious in mercy and desires that none would perish, but turn in repentance to Him for the forgiveness of their sins. (2 Peter 2:9).

That can only happen when those of us who He has called share that good news with those who are out of the will of God, even if they have contributed to our very own pain. (John 3:16; Matthew 28:19; Romans 10:14-15). 

So, who’s at risk for going to hell, and spend eternal separation from God because “we ain’t going” to warn them that He offers forgiveness to all who turn to Him from their wicked ways and accept the free gift of His mercy, through Christ Jesus? (John 3:16). 

Marie Horn

Gathering Outreach Ministry

So often God is criticized for being God. The fact that He would give people free will but then “judge” or “punish” them for it doesn’t seem so “god-like” to many. 

Yet, consider- a spouse who chooses to cheat, must deal with the consequences that his partner issues to judge or punish for that choice. Most agree that he/she deserves the punishment due to their decision. 

Or……………

The child who chose to make a poor decision can be judged or disciplined by a parent who was not happy with their choice. Many (to a certain degree) would agree the parent is within their rights because this is “their” child who disobeyed “parents” rules. 

Or what about…….

A criminal who chooses to commit a horrible crime-the consensus would be, he or she should be punished and jailed for the poor choice. We would be livid at the judge who let them go without punishment.

See……………..

We have somehow managed to place ourselves as judges of God. We can choose as we please, without any consequence. We can even hold others accountable for their decisions; BUT NOT GOD! It’s not right for Him to do it. 

Here’s the thing, God is gone be GOD and He don’t need permission to be or do what He does! People may not like it or believe in Him due to it! Many even get mad at Him! However, He has never ceased to be God. 

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. (Romans 1:19). 

So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:20-21).

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. (Romans 1:24-26).

“Bound; But Not Burned”

Oh! So you not gone bow! That’s what you’re choosing to do, knowing the consequences of your betrayers! You’re BOLD! You do understand what this will lead to right! 

You telling me, you gone trust God to get you through this type of fire? 

If your day, your week, this month, (yep, I know it just started) or even your year, has felt like walking through fire, this message is for you! 

So often, we hear the story of the Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace, in Daniel 3. For the most part, the story is told with a focus on them. But let’s take another look at the story to see what’s really happening, and we’ll find that it’s about more than them. 

Daniel, a prophet during the time of Judah’s exile in Babylonian captivity, as a result of their constant rebellion and idolatry against God, provides us great details of his visions and their experiences. They had some good and bad kings, and prior to their captivity, they had prophet after prophet, warning them of God’s judgment for their sin. Like us, they wouldn’t listen. They took advantage of the mercy and kindness of God. They eventually were taken into captivity-at least an elect group. The poor were left behind to survive in their city that had just been destroyed, along with the temple. Like many wars, the young and able body men were seized, Daniel and some of his monotheistic friends were recruited to serve a polytheistic king, in a foreign land. They worked for King Nebuchadnezzar and their coworkers were corrupt and spiteful. See these Hebrew fellows were god-fearing. They knew of only one true God.  YAHWEH! It was understood in their culture that you don’t bow down to anything or anyone but Him! It didn’t matter how splendid the alter looked or the command and societal pressure to bow, WORSHIP AND BOWING was to God alone! This meant even if it costs you your life! 

So, we find them in this foreign country, away from home surrounded by pure secularism, working for a king who desires worship. Yes! King Nebuchadnezzar saw himself as a god, deserving of the people’s worship, fear, obedience, and adoration of him. You’ve heard this story before. He was so desperate for that power and pomp that he ordered a statue, an image of himself, in pure gold, might I add, to be erected. He ordered everyone to attend! Oh it was epic! Who wouldn’t have wanted to be there! It was a “You had to be there” type occasion. Literally! 

All the king required was to look at the image, when prompted by the sounds, and WORSHIP him. 

Not these stubborn Hebrews though. Nah! They were rooted from their homeland. They stood on BIBLE! They were not wavering in their faith. They were so sure in their faith that only God deserved worship, that they risked their lives. They were willing to be bound and burned, but they meant absolutely that they were not going to bow. You do realize that they could have though. Surely it wouldn’t have harmed anyone. Surely it was okay since they were away from home. I mean come on, they survived being forced to Babylon. They could’ve just did it! After-all, everyone was bowing. Nobody was trying to die over this! God’s gotta understand this kind of pressure right! It’s not that big of a deal! Just BOW and ask God for forgiveness later! Isn’t that what the Christian culture teaches? 

Here’s the thing, 

Nebuchadnezzar wanted the people to see his image and bow down to him. The Hebrew boys didn’t bow or bend to his command or threat. Often the message is surrounding them but the Spirit showed me that it’s about more than them. They were simply willing conduits. DO NOT miss this key point in the text. 

Nebuchadnezzar is the only one who saw the image of God in the fire! The man who wanted his image seen and exalted, demanding worship to him, and who ordered that all the people come to do so, this man, King Nebuchadnezzar, is the one who saw the image of a 4th man in the fire! Read the text again. It says it ver clearly! 

The same people he called to worship his image, is the same people he called to let them know that there is no god greater than the Hebrews God. 

Those guys could’ve avoided the fire but Nebuchadnezzar would’ve missed seeing the image that even he was created in.

Message: Sometimes God allows us to be put in the fire so those against us and our God, can see His image revealed in us! 

We often only look at fires destroying but fires can also reveal. While those flames are always high and hot, a closer look can reveal things not seen to the carnal eyes! Flames provide not just heat, but light! 

I don’t know about you but choosing to go in the fire, not to mention being bound, sounds absurd! Not to mention, God may or may not rescue you from going in the fire. Wait! Imagine that! Taking a stand for God, and He still allows the furnace! He still allows you to be bound up, with the heat being increased? How can someone serve a God like this? 

Listen, the Hebrew boys understood what we need to understand, only God is God! Only He deserves worship! Bold faith under public pressure is necessary if those around us are to see Christ! This is extremely important, and especially in our puffed up, prideful, self-centered, egotistical society. Everyone wants people to see their image rather than allowing the heat of the hatred from our foes to reveal his light in us! 

God didn’t prevent them from going through this although they stood on His promise. God used them in it to show a wicked king, who the Only True and living God was/is! 

Yeah, the carnal, earthly king bound you for not bowing, but the True King didn’t let you burn! 

Scriptural References-

2 Kings 24-25, 

2 Chronicles 36

Daniel 1 and 3

Non-biblical reference according to Babylonian records- Al-Yahudu Tablets

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity

-Marie Horn

05.13.2026

Sermon Notes