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Published: March 10, 2009, 2:38 a.m.

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A Place to Grow

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Every area of our lives presents itself an opportunity to grow.\\xa0

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(Jonah 3:10) \\u201cWhen God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.\\u201d

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(Jonah 4:1) \\u201cBut Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry.\\u201d

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(Jonah 4:2-3) \\u201cHe prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."\\u201d

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(Jonah 4:4) \\u201cBut the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"

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(Jonah 4:5) \\u201cJonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.

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(Jonah 4:6) \\u201cThen the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine.\\u201d

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(Jonah 4:7-8) \\u201cBut at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah\'s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."\\u201d

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(Jonah 4:9) \\u201cBut God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?" "I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die."

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(Jonah 4:10-11) \\u201cBut the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

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We miss growing in God when:

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1. We have sin in our hearts.

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(Jonah 4:4) \\u201cBut the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"

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(Jonah 4:6) \\u201cThen the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine.\\u201d

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\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 2. We are out of our comfort zone.

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(Matthew 16:24) \\u201cThen Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.\\u201d

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(Deuteronomy 31:8) \\u201cThe LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."\\u201d

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(Jonah 4:7-8) \\u201cBut at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah\'s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."\\u201d

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3. We feel like giving up.

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(Hebrews 12:1) \\u201c\\u2026and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.\\u201d

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(Philippians 2:12) \\u201c\\u2026continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,"

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(Jonah 4:9-11) \\u201cBut God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?" "I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die." \\u201cBut the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

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\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 4.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0We forget that God always pursues His people.

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(Jonah 4:11) \\u201c\\u2026.Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

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[COMMUNION VERSE]

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(1 Corinthians 11:23-26)\\xa0 \\u201cThe Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, \\u201cThis is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.\\u201d\\xa0 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, \\u201cThis cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.\\u201d\\xa0 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord\\u2019s death until he comes.\\u201d

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For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.

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