303 B The life of Jonah

Marketplace facts: The Life of JonahMarketplace facts: The Life of Jonah

MARKETPLACE FACTS

THE LIFE OF JONAHModule 303 B

Mario Denton

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Overall purpose of this series on Marketplace

To understand and learn from various marketplace facts so that you can: • Be more effective and anointed wherever you are in the marketplace.

• Adapt and benchmark your marketplace practices and principles discussed in this series.

• Use these material to facilitate the work of evangelism.



Lessons from the Life of Jonah

• Jonah running away from God, running in the opposite direction (1:3).

• As leaders, we can run but not hide.

• God will get our attention.




• Not money, position, power nor pleasure can shield us from God’s sovereignty.

• We can give Him our attention voluntarily, or He will get it another way.




• When we miss the presence of God, His is not the one who has moved (2:4).

• When profits and success turn to losses and failures, we must go to our Father to find hope. (2:7)

• As leaders we must often give hope to our followers but the source of this hope must rest in the power of the risen Christ.




• Jonah was just one leader, but he saw a city transformed with Gods power. (3:8)

• As you seek the presence of God, He wants to use you to be transformed and to impact your company and even your city.




• Jonah sulked and became suicidal (4:3,8) because things did not go his way.

• His pride allowed him to wallow in self-pity.




• How soon he forgot the deliverance of God and the graciousness of Gods provisions.

• The only thing worse than undergoing trials is the challenge of becoming complacent in prosperity and comfort.




• The greatest lesson that we can learn from Jonah is found in the last few verses of the book.

• Jonah’s worldview had shrunk to the small circle of his own life.

• He got angry over just one “plant” and questioned Gods decision (sound familiar?).




• We get so concerned about our business, our car, our pet, out hobby, our finances, our reputation, our comforts, and our projects.

• But we do not use our time, resources, or influence to meet the needs of the people around us (employees, peers, vendors, clients, competitors).




• God was far more concerned about the people of Nineveh than He was for one plant.

• How concerned are you for Gods working in and through the lives of the people surrounding you?




• Do you sense God’s concern for those living in spiritual darkness in your sphere of influence?

• Jesus Christ wants to love people through you in your workplace.



Focusing on People



Prayer Focus• Father, In the name of Jesus, I

surrender myself to walk in the Word in the marketplace. Your word living in me produces the Life in this world.

• The word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. It makes my way plain before me.

• I boldly and confidently say that my heart is fixed and established on the solid foundation – the Living Word of God! Amen



Learning, application and commitment: James 1: 22-25

• “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.

• Do what it says. • Anyone who listens to the word but does not do

what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

• But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.” (NIV)



Learning, application and commitment

• One of the principles that I have learned from this lesson was …

• I intend to apply this principle in my market place by: …..

• With the help of the Holy Spirit, I will begin applying this truth immediately.



Jesus said: Take what I have given you and change the world!



Sources and acknowledgementCHRIST@ WORK NEWSLETTER

• Copyright Notice• © 2005 FCCI- Limited permission to copy without altering text or

profiteering is granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. Copy is limited to member and/or FCCI small group use.

Unauthorized use of FCCI, Christ@Work, Crown Companies, their trademarks or logos is strictly prohibited.

• The “Facts of the Matter” is also available through the Internet: www.factsofthematter.org. 2003 R. Dwight Hill.

• Slides compiled by Mario Denton. • Please commit yourself to inform us of the results regarding the

effectiveness thereof should you wish to use this material.



Let's keep the good marketplace vibes alive. Let's network.

Become a member of the Crown Companies Marketplace Coaching Forum.

Tel (w) + 27(0) 82 88 29903. e-mail address:[email protected]

Website: www.crown.org.za

Blessings from Dr Mario Denton as the Africa: Continental Program Director - Marketplace


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303 B The life of Jonah