Pericope: Jonah 1:1-3 - The word of the Lord came to Jonah son

of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it,

because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah ran

away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to

Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the

fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

Sermon Text: Jonah 1:3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and

headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a

ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and

sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

Sermon Title: Let it Go! Therapy for Jonah and Me

Session 1: On the ship (Ship therapy) – Jonah 1: 6 The captain

went to him and said, “your god! Maybe he will take notice of us

so that we will not perish.”

Session 2: in the sea/fish (fish therapy) – Jonah 2:1, 10 - 1 From

inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 10 And the Lord

commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

   a) Vs. 2 He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he

answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called

for help, and you listened to my cry.

   b) Vs. 4 - I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will

look again toward your holy temple.’

   c) Vs. 6 - To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth

beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God,

brought my life up from the pit.

Session 3: Under a tree (anger therapy) – Jonah 4: 5 Jonah had

gone 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 8 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.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you

to be angry about the plant?”

a) Anger had him

b) Anger defined someone took your right

c) Anger must be justified so you refuse someone’s future

because of their past.

   • Prov. 14: 29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,

but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.

   • James 1: 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of

this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and

slow to become angry,

   • Prov. 16: 32 Better a patient person than a warrior,

one with self-control than one who takes a city.

Life Application:

1. Greatness awaits but refusal to let it go shuts down your

future.

2. If you don’t let your past go it won’t let your future live.

3. Stop playing the victim in your anger game.

4. Serve or gift someone when you struggle with and watch

your heart change.