It's a common question we ask "Why God allow bad things happen to His people?" We never realised that all of us are sinners. This CD by John Mac Arthur is good. It gives you better understanding and knowledge.
Why bad things happen to God’s people?
1. Test the availability of their faith. Destroying or saving faith?
2. Win them from the world
3. Call them to heavenly home
4. Show us what we really love. This is proven what precious to us.
5. Teach us obedience
6. Show His compassion
7. Develop their spiritual
8. Enable us to help other in their trouble
After knowing this… what would be your response when bad things happen to you? I thank God as I know there’s always purpose for everything.
Jonah is story of a man who got swallowed by a big fish. He lived inside the fish for 3 days 3 nights. Jonah ran away from God because he did not want to convey a message to Nineveh (his enemy) that God would destroyed them unless they repented from their evil deeds. Jonah knew God would forgive Nineveh if they repented.
There are 2 characters in Jonah's story:
1. God was full of compassion & merciful to forgive anyone who was willingly to repent and accept God.
2. Jonah was a prophet yet he was unable to accept the fact that God forgive his enemy.
The Lord said: “.. (Jonah 4: 11) 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?"
What kind of person are you? Are you compassion & merciful or unreasonable? God has given each of us many chances. Can't we give others a second chance?
“Jonah Was A Prophet” (song from Jonah-Veggie Tales)
When I was a boy I went to church back home in Arizona
And that is where I heard the tale of a man whose name was Jonah
Now Jonah was a prophet, but that's not why he's remembered
They tell the tale, cause in a whale he nearly was dismembered!
CHORUS:
Jonah was a prophet (oo-ooh!)
But he really never got it (sad but true!)
And if you watch it you can spot it (a-doodley-doo!)
He did not get the point!
Compassion and mercy from me to you and you to me
Exactly what god wants to see and yes that is the point!
(CHORUS)
Now Jonah Set Sail on A Pirate ship. In a dreadful gale
Got eaten up by a giant whale. But then its not to be said
You think he would learn a lot. From being saved from an awful spot
But the second chance that he had got
He didn't want to be spread
Now poor old Jonah. And now he's all alone-ah
Gotta use a megaphone-ah to get it through to his head-HEY!
(CHORUS)
Now during your life you prob'ly don't ride on a camel
And you prob'ly won't wake up inside a large aquatic mammal
But all the same like Jonah there is something you can do
Everyone deserves to get a second chance from you!
Compassion and mercy from me to you and you to me
Exactly what god wants to see and yes that is the point!
(CHORUS X2)
Proclamation of Service (By Joseph M. Martin)
As for those in this house, we will serve the Lord.
We will give our allegiance unto God.
With one voice we will offer up our song,
give our praise with voices strong, live our lives for God alone.
As for those in this house,we will serve the Lord.
This we pledge with our hearts in one accord.
Let the lives we bring give honor to the king.
As for those in this house we will serve the Lord
Founded on the Word of God, we have built this place.
Nurtured by the love of God, we proclaim his grace.
Challenged by the truth of God we break forth in praise.
We break forth in praise (Alleluia!) 2x
We will serve the Lord for all our days!
Take my live and let it be, consecrated Lord to thee.
Take my heart it us thine own, it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
We will serve the Lord. 2x
When the choir sang this song after the service sermon “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20). It’s truly a conviction! This is a strong statement of faith and commitment to service of the Lord.
It reminded of God’s provision for Israel from slavery to promise Land. Then Joshua challenged the Israel. "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14-15). And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him." (Joshua 24: 24)
Today 17-August is remembrance of Indonesia Independence Day. God’s provision is for everyone. Trust in the Lord! Indonesia Merdeka!
It's a common question we ask "Why God allow bad things happen to His people?" We never realised that all of us are sinners. 
