The Ship to Tarshish Preacher - has God called you to preach? Has God called you to "cry out" ("preach") against sin? Are you doing what God called you to do? Have you instead bought a ticket to Tarshish and have now joined together with other preachers as they rush away from God's clear orders to "reprove, rebuke and exhort"? Have you chosen instead to dole out to your people "verse-by-verse" teaching each week instead of preaching to them? Preacher Jonah thought that he was smart. He thought that it was "okay" for him to doze off in a boat headed away from God's will. Jonah thought that surely God would not judge him for his sin and rebellion again God's command for him to preach. Jonah found out that he was very wrong to rebel against God. He found it out the hard way, way down in the belly of that great fish. But today, there are few preachers who are willing to preach against the sins of the people. I am sure that there are some exceptions. Nevertheless, it is the general rule that most so-called preachers in these Last Days of Laodicean Apostasy would rather teach than preach. Now Jonah was afraid. He was afraid that the people of Nineveh might actually repent because his preaching against their sin. Perhaps you have different fears from Jonah. Perhaps you are afraid of "rocking the boat" by upsetting some of your lost church members. Perhaps you are afraid of your own wife - that she will criticize you for obeying God and preaching. Are you what Revelation calls "fearful and unbelieving"? It is probably not too late for you to repent. If you are truly saved but, like Jonah, are living outside of the will of God, then it is time to repent and come back to Jesus and the Bible. It is time to do right and get right with God. It is time to cry out against the sins of the people. It is time to obey God. There were some other men with Jonah in that ship going to Tarshish. Most were religious men, but lost religious men going down to Hell. Perhaps you are a preacher who is religious but lost. If you have never trusted Jesus Himself to pay for your sins, then you are still going to Hell. Your good work of "going down the aisle" did not save you. Neither did your good work of "praying that [magic] sinner's prayer". Even believing some Bible doctrines will not save you any more than it saves the demons who believe and tremble. A Bible doctrine did not shed its blood on the cross to pay for your sins. Jesus died for you on the Cross. Only Jesus saves. If you are a lost preacher, then turn from your sins and come to Jesus Himself and get cleansed in the blood of Jesus. Come to Jesus today while there is still a chance for you to get saved. Trust Jesus Christ today. Then get into a good Fundamentalist Baptist church and put Jesus and the Bible first. God bless you as you it.
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